Alcohol poisoning occurs when you drink too much alcohol for your body to process. The results can be deadly. Learn the signs of alcohol poisoning and treatment options available for alcohol addiction.
What is Alcohol Poisoning?
Alcohol poisoning, also known as alcohol overdose, occurs when you consume more alcohol than your body is able to metabolize. This buildup of alcohol in your liver forces it to move throughout your body and leads to alcohol poisoning.
This is an extremely serious and dangerous condition that can cause severe symptoms, including death.
Alcohol Poisoning Signs
Alcohol poisoning symptoms can include either all or a combination of the below:
- Clammy skin
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Slowed breathing
- Feeling confused
- Paleness
- Becoming unconscious
- Slow heart rate
- Unusually low body temperature
- Death
If you suspect someone has alcohol poisoning, you should immediately call 911. Alcohol poisoning deaths can happen quickly and suddenly. The best way to avoid alcohol poisoning is to not drink.
What is the Treatment for Alcohol Poisoning?
Treatment for alcohol poisoning always requires going to a hospital or medical facility where medical professionals can administer oxygen, fluids, and specific nutrients. There is no other option for treating this condition. Alcohol poisoning is not something that you can sleep off.
What are the Risk Factors for Alcohol Poisoning?
There are several factors that can increase your risk of alcohol poisoning:
Binge Drinking
Binge drinking is a leading cause of alcohol poisoning. This occurs when your alcohol consumption consists of more than five alcoholic beverages within one hour or when a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) reaches .08g/dl or greater.
Size
The size of your body can also put you at increased risk of alcohol poisoning. Larger bodies tend to be able to metabolize alcohol more quickly than smaller bodies.
Age
Age also plays a factor. Younger individuals tend to drink large amounts of alcohol, putting them at risk.
Are You Addicted to Alcohol?
If you are someone who has experienced alcohol poisoning or drinks regularly, you might have an alcohol use disorder (also known as an alcohol addiction). People with alcohol addictions typically display a combination of the following behaviors and symptoms:
- Obsess over drinking alcohol
- Lose a job due to drinking
- Financial difficulties as a result of drinking
- Avoid daily responsibilities
- Isolate
- Only spend time with people who drink
- Drink alcohol daily
- Drink alcohol in large amounts
- Experience withdrawal symptoms, even when not drinking for just a few days
- Building an alcohol tolerance
- Drinking more than intended
- And many others
You do not need to display all of the above symptoms in order to have an addiction to alcohol. Many people with an alcohol use disorder only display a handful of the above behaviors. These behaviors can also change over time. For example, maybe you once had financial difficulties due to drinking, but you no longer do. Or maybe you used to drink alcohol daily, but now you only drink on the weekends (and when you do, you drink excessively). These behaviors could still indicate an addiction.
The best way to determine if you do have an addiction is to get evaluated by a medical professional.
Individualized Treatment For Alcohol Addiction
If you think you might have an addiction to alcohol, individualized treatment programs are known for being effective. These programs create customized plans based on your needs and include a variety of evidence-based therapies to help you overcome your addiction.
Therapies can range from medication-assisted treatment, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), motivational enhancement therapy, group counseling, family therapy, and much more.
Get Alcohol Addiction Treatment Today
At Paramount Recovery Centers, we provide respectful, compassionate, and innovative substance use disorder treatment in Massachusetts. Our addiction treatment programs help individuals overcome substance use disorders and any co-occurring mental health conditions. Each program is customized based on each guest’s psychological and emotional health.
