What causes alcohol poisoning?

Alcohol poisoning is most commonly caused by binge drinking.  Binge drinking happens when a person drinks enough to bring their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 grams.  For men, this usually means having 5 or more drinks in two hours.  For women, this usually means having 4 or more drinks in two hours.  Alcohol poisoning can also occur through accidental ingestion of household products containing alcohol.

Alcohol slows down normal bodily functions including heartbeat and breathing, as well as impairs your gag reflex (which keeps you from choking).  Too much alcohol in a short time can cause your system to slow down too much, causing you to pass out, or stop your organs from functioning.

What are the signs of alcohol poisoning?

Signs of alcohol poisoning include:

• Consumption of large amounts of alcohol
• Cannot be woken up after drinking
• Skin feels cold and clammy or looks pale or bluish
• Breathing slows or becomes irregular (fewer than 10 breaths a minute)
• Vomiting without waking up

What should you do if you think someone has alcohol poisoning?

If the person is conscious:

• If the person is awake, call poison control.  Call 1.800.222.1222 to be connected to your local poison control center.  They will instruct you on how to treat your friend or get them to medical care.

If the person is unconscious:

• If the person is passed out, try to wake them.  Calling their name or pinching their skin should lead to some reaction.  If you still cannot wake them, get medical attention right away by calling 9-1-1.
• Do not leave the person’s side while waiting for medical help to arrive. Even if they do not have alcohol poisoning, they may still be at risk.  Some people drink so much they choke on their own vomit, or face other physical risks such as accidents or sexual assault.  Turning them on their side can help prevent them from choking.

How do you prevent alcohol poisoning?

When drinking alcohol, there is a threshold where drinking more does not change your “buzz.”  Drinking more will only cause harm, such as dehydration or alcohol poisoning.

To prevent alcohol poisoning always remember to drink in moderation.  Below are additional tips to prevent alcohol poisoning:

• Only drink one serving of alcohol an hour (12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor).  Note: A cup or glass with more than one serving in it is more than one drink.
• Avoid drinking on an empty stomach.
• Alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.  For example, try drinking one glass of water after every alcoholic drink.
• Never mix alcohol and other drugs or medications.
• Do not drink because you are being pressured.
• Set a limit before you start drinking and stick to it.
• Every person tolerates a different amount of alcohol.  Do not try to pace or compete with anyone else.

Who gets alcohol poisoning?

Alcohol poisoning can happen to anyone who drinks too much too fast.  However, alcohol poisoning is more common among certain people.

• Age: Teens, young adults and less-experienced drinkers are less likely to know safe limits and may be more likely to get alcohol poisoning.  This age group is also more likely to binge drink.
• Sex: People who were assigned female at birth are more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol.  Women tend to have a lower percentage of body water than men and will likely have a higher alcohol concentration, even if they drink the same amount.  This can lead to alcohol poisoning.
• Size and weight: The smaller and thinner you are, the faster your body will absorb the alcohol, increasing your risk of alcohol poisoning.
• Recent food consumption: Drinking on a full stomach slows your body’s absorption of alcohol.  However, this does not prevent alcohol poisoning.
• Other drugs: Use of other drugs and prescriptions can increase your risk of alcohol poisoning.
• Overall health: Conditions like heart disease or diabetes make you more vulnerable to alcohol poisoning.  If you have a chronic condition, talk to your doctor about how alcohol may affect you.

What is the current research on alcohol?

Expectations 

• Research at the UW shows that students told they’re receiving alcohol but actually receive a non-alcoholic drink become more talkative, outgoing, social, friendly and confident.

The rate of sobering up

• People burn off alcohol at a constant rate of .016% per hour.  This means that a person at a blood alcohol level of .080% (the legal limit for those over 21) will take five hours to reach a .000% blood alcohol level.

Tolerance

• Tolerance means it takes more of a substance for someone to feel the expected effects.  Having a tolerance does not mean a person gets less intoxicated (blood alcohol level will be the same as if the person did not have tolerance).  Recent research has shown that tolerance can actually be impacted by setting (where a person is).  In response to repeated exposure to cues associated with drinking (e.g., a person’s room or a set of friends), the body will prepare to receive alcohol over time.  If a person drinks the same amount in the absence of those cues, it will have a much more significant effect.  In other words, a person who has tolerance in one setting may not carry that tolerance to a different setting.

Alcohol’s “biphasic” effect

• When we ask what happens when people start losing a “buzz” after drinking, we often hear, “they drink more.”  When we ask if they ever get that same “buzz” back, we consistently hear “no.”  What is felt instead?  The “drunk” part.  Scientifically, there’s an explanation for this.  Research shows that after people exceed a particular blood alcohol level, the effects of alcohol start to change.  The positive feelings people get feel less positive and the depressant effects get more pronounced.  This means that if a person goes up to but does not exceed this point, they are less at risk for alcohol poisoning.

In prevention and intervention efforts at the University of Washington, it is always made clear that it is illegal to drink under the age of 21.  The best way to avoid all unwanted consequences associated with drinking is to abstain.  

For more information about alcohol abuse prevention and intervention efforts on campus, students can contact LiveWell at livewell@u.washington.edu or 206.543.6085.

Where can you get help for alcohol use?

Resources for Seattle & King County area

• Washington Recovery Helpline

24-hour help for substance abuse, problem gambling and mental health.

1.800.562.1240 (Washington only)

1.866.833.6546 (Teenlink–answered by teens)

• Seattle-King County Crisis Connections (24 hour crisis line)

Telephone-based crisis intervention, information and referrals for adults and youth in Seattle-King County.

1.888.4.CRISIS/1.888.427.1717

• Alcoholics Anonymous (24 hour)

Support for people seeking to recover from alcoholism

206.587.2838

• If you are interested in receiving personalized feedback about your alcohol use, take a brief confidential screening survey through eCHECKUP To Go.