Alcohol Poisoning: The Forgotten Danger
“When people think about alcohol, they tend to think about two problems: addiction and drinking and driving. This [report] shows there is another big problem – you can die from alcohol itself.”
~ Dr. David Jernigan, PhD, Director, Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University
While the US drug crisis dominates the headlines, the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption are largely forgotten. And among those that DO remember, the conversation usually focuses on two subjects:
Alcoholism: According to the most-recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health, there are over 15 million Americans age 12 and older who have an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).
Alcohol-Related Car Crashes: In 2016, 10,497 people died in car crashes involving alcohol.
And while these are huge issues indicative on the larger problem of problematic substance abuse, many people forget that it is also possible to die due to alcohol overdose—binge-drinking until the body shuts down.
An average of six Americans a day die because of alcohol poisoning.
Alcohol Poisoning Defined
Drinking a large quantity of alcohol in a short period of time can overwhelm the body’s ability to safely metabolize that alcohol. Such a rapid increase in Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) can impair brain function to the point that it cannot regulate basic life-support functions.
Here’s the thing—BAC can continue to rise even after the person has passed out, because even in unconsciousness, alcohol that was in their stomach or small intestine will enter the bloodstream.
Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning
Alcohol poisoning is ALWAYS a medical emergency, and all of the conventional wisdoms on how to sober someone out – cold showers, coffee, walking them around – won’t help.
Symptoms include:
- Extreme confusion
- Difficulty remaining conscious
- Breathing troubles
- Slowed heartbeat
- Cold, clammy skin
- Low body temperature
- Vomiting
- Impaired response – no gag reflex, unresponsive to pain, etc.
If you suspect someone is overdosing on alcohol, seek medical treatment immediately.
Approximately 88,000 Americans die because of alcohol-related causes every year. Lasting Recovery outpatient alcohol rehab in San Diego can help you and the people you care about safely regain their sobriety and return to a healthier, more productive life.
Sources:
https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-FFR1-2016/NSDUH-FFR1-2016.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html
https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/AlcoholOverdoseFactsheet/Overdosefact.htm
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Today, I went to the beachfront with my kids. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is totally off topic but I had to tell someone!