“When people talk about ‘alcohol poisoning’, what do they mean? Is it the same as being drunk or is it more serious than that?”
Put simply, alcohol poisoning occurs when you drink alcohol faster than your body can process it. This is usually due to ‘binge drinking’ or ‘drinking to get drunk’, particularly among young people who have less experience with alcohol and are not aware of their limits. When someone drinks alcohol faster than their liver can metabolise it, the amount of alcohol in the blood rises, sometimes to a danger point. This can lead to an overdose situation. At very high blood alcohol levels, a person may suffer a seizure, lose consciousness and slip into a coma. Having too much alcohol in your blood prevents your body working properly and can be life-threatening.
Deaths from alcohol poisoning usually occurs in one of three ways:
- The blood alcohol level (i.e., the amount of alcohol in the body) becomes so high that the depressant effects slow down the central nervous system. Usually, the drinker then dies because their breathing is compromised, causing their heart to stop, usually while unconscious
- The drinker loses consciousness and because they’re alone or not being monitored properly, they’re sick and subsequently choke on their own vomit. There are also rare reports of an unconscious drinker choking on their own tongue
- The alcohol reacts with another substance that the person has taken. This drug can be either prescribed by a doctor, an over-the-counter medication or an illegal substance. These deaths are extremely unpredictable as they can happen even if the person has not consumed a great deal of alcohol
Symptoms of being drunk can include slurred speech, drowsiness and difficulty walking. The person may also feel sick or even vomit. While being in this state can feel unpleasant, most drunk people do not need medical assistance. Alcohol poisoning, on the other hand is a medical emergency and requires immediate attention. If someone has been drinking and you see one of the following, they’re not drunk, they’re poisoned, meaning you cannot deal with the situation alone:
- The person is unconscious and can’t be awakened by pinching, prodding or shouting
- The skin is cold, clammy, pale or bluish or purplish in colour, indicating they are not getting enough oxygen
- The person is breathing very slowly, if there are more than 10 seconds between breaths – this is an emergency
- Vomiting without waking up
Alcohol poisoning or alcohol overdose is usually caused by drinking too much, too quickly and is extremely dangerous. It’s vital that the intoxicated person is looked after appropriately. If you believe someone you’re with has drunk too much and could possibly be poisoned, don’t hesitate, call 000 immediately.
First published: October 2024
