What Is Alcohol Poisoning?

When a person has alcohol poisoning they have consumed a toxic amount of alcohol, usually over a short period. Alcohol poisoning can be life-threatening and usually requires urgent medical treatment.

Binge drinking is a common cause of alcohol poisoning. We absorb alcohol much more quickly than food - alcohol gets to our bloodstream much faster. The faster you drink, the higher your BAC (blood alcohol concentration) becomes. If you drink too fast, your BAC can spike dangerously high.

If your BAC is high enough, these physical functions can stop working, the patient stops breathing and passes out (loses consciousness).

In the USA approximately 50,000 cases of alcohol poisoning are reported annually. About one patient dies each week in the USA from alcohol poisoning.

What are the signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning?

The following signs and symptoms may indicate a progression from being drunk to alcohol poisoning:

·         Unusual breathing rhythm

·         Very slow breathing

·         Vomiting

If blood glucose levels drop they might have fits (seizures).

If the alcohol poisoning is extreme the patient can go into a coma and eventually die. Do not give them any more alcohol to drink.