It is common to relax and have fun at parties, cheer on your favorite team or enjoy get-togethers after work. Unfortunately, these occasions can also involve drinking, including binging or high-intensity alcohol. The consequences can be fatal when this happens.
Drinking excessively and too fast can cause significant impairments in motor coordination and decision-making. This increases the danger of injury. An alcohol overdose can be caused by continuing to drink, even if you have clear indications of impairments.
What is an Alcohol Overdose?
Alcohol overdose is when the bloodstream contains so much alcohol that brain areas responsible for essential life-support functions (such as breathing, heartbeat, temperature control, and temperature control) begin to shut down. As a result, an alcohol overdose can cause mental confusion, seizures, vomiting, difficulty breathing, slow heartbeat, clammy skin, and dulled responses like the no gag reflex, which prevents you from choking. Alcohol poisoning can cause permanent brain damage and even death.
The factors determining the balance between drinking that causes impairment and drinking that puts one’s life at risk vary from person to person. Factors influencing your tolerance to alcohol are age, gender, speed, medication taken, and the amount of food you’ve eaten.
Overdose can be increased by alcohol consumption and the use of opioids and sedative hypnotics such as anti-anxiety and sleep aids. These medications include sleep aids like zolpidem or eszopiclone and benzodiazepines like diazepam or alprazolam.
Drinking alcohol while taking over-the-counter antihistamines is dangerous. Combining alcohol with opioid pain relievers like oxycodone or morphine or with illicit opioids like heroin can be dangerous. These drugs, like alcohol, suppress brain areas that control vital functions such as breathing.
Consuming alcohol and other drugs in combination can intensify their effects. Even moderate amounts of alcohol could lead to an overdose. In this case, alcohol detox and alcohol rehabilitation are vital.
Who may be at risk?
Overdosing on alcohol can be dangerous for anyone who drinks too much alcohol at once. This is particularly true for those who binge drink. It refers to a drinking pattern that increases blood alcohol concentration (BAC), by which a person consumes more alcohol than needed.
Teenagers and young adults who have been drinking may be at greater risk of alcohol overdose. Research has shown that college-aged young adults and teens are more likely to engage in binge- and high-intensity alcohol consumption. Consuming large amounts of alcohol can cause the body to have a difficult time breaking down and clearing the bloodstream. This can lead to rapid increases in BAC and significantly impair brain function and other bodily functions.
The risks increase as BAC increases
The effect of alcohol and the risk of harm increase with an increase in blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Even small increases in BAC could affect motor coordination, cause sickness, or cloud judgment. An individual can be more at risk of being hurt in car accidents or falls or engaging in unprotected sex. Blackouts, loss of consciousness (passing unconscious), and even death can occur when BAC reaches high levels.
Even if a person has stopped drinking, BAC can still rise. This is because the stomach and intestine continue to absorb alcohol and circulate throughout your body.
It is dangerous to think that someone unconscious will get it under control by simply sleeping it off. Choking on one’s vomit is one potential risk of alcohol overdose. High levels of alcohol can cause brain signals to stop functioning, such as the gag reflex.
A person who drinks excessively can cause choking and death due to lack of oxygen. Even if the victim survives, this type of alcohol overdose can cause long-term brain damage. Hathaway Recovery alcohol rehab in California provides the best alcohol rehab programs to meet your individual needs.
Vital Signs and Symptoms of an Alcohol Overdose
- Stuttering, mental confusion
- Inability to get up or difficulty in remaining conscious
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Slow breathing (less than eight breaths per min)
- Irregular breathing (more than 10 seconds between each breath)
- Slow heart rate
- Clammy skin
- Dulled responses include no gag reflex (which stops you from choking) and no gag reflex (which prevents you from choking).
- Shallow body temperatures, bluish skin color, or paleness
Get to know the danger signs and act quickly
If you suspect someone suffers from an alcohol overdose, be aware of the warning signs and call 911 immediately. Don’t wait for symptoms to resolve.
Also, be aware that someone unconscious can become seriously ill and even die. Do not pretend to be a doctor. Cold showers, hot coffee, and walking will not reverse the effects of alcohol abuse and may make matters worse.
While you wait for supervised detox assistance to arrive
- It would be best if you were prepared to give information to the responders. This includes the type and quantity of alcohol the person consumed, any other drugs they took, and any information you have about the person’s health, such as allergies and medications that the person is currently taking.
- Don’t leave an intoxicated person unattended as they could fall or choke. Instead, place the intoxicated person on the ground, sitting or partly upright, and not in a chair.
- If someone is vomiting, help them. To prevent choking, have the person lean forward. To prevent choking, roll a person onto one side if he or she is unconscious or lying down.
When should you see a doctor?
Talk to your doctor if you think you are drinking too much or if you have concerns about your family’s drinking habits. In addition, talking to a mental health professional, considering alcohol detox programs in treatment centers, or joining a support group like Alcoholics Anonymous or another similar group can help you get help. Like Hathaway Recovery rehab, luxury alcohol treatment centers in Los Angeles treat alcohol addiction and give the right support.
Denial can make it seem like you don’t’ have a problem drinking. It is possible not to realize how much alcohol you are drinking or the impact on your life. Listen when your family, friends, or coworkers ask you to look into your drinking habits and seek help. Talk to someone who has quit drinking if you have a problem.
For your loved one who needs assistance
People with an alcohol abuse disorder are often reluctant to seek treatment. However, some people can be helped to recognize that they require professional help by having loved ones intervene. Ask a professional experienced in alcohol treatment for guidance on how to approach someone you are concerned about.
Hathaway Recovery is a luxury drug rehab center in California offering healing recovery from all substances. We are a leading provider of high-quality clinical and nursing treatment programs for our clients who require the very best psychological and dependency treatment services. Hathaway Recovery is a safe space for individuals who are serious about their recovery to discover the root cause of their addiction and find new skills for a productive life.
Hathaway Recovery offers a drug addiction treatment with beautiful surroundings, attentive staff, and knowledgeable professionals. We can accept many insurances and work with your insurer to determine what services you can receive. To find out if luxury rehab in California is right for you, call us at (909) 971-3333
