Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol is the quintessential legal drug. You buy it at the grocery store and the place where you pump your gas. However, this substance also has a dark side and routinely destroys the lives of many of its users. In fact, you may have recently suffered the symptoms of alcohol poisoning yourself.

Here are some statistics about alcohol poisoning that you should know:

• Every year 5,000 people die from alcohol poisoning according to the Center for Disease Control.
• About 1 in every 8 college students report blacking out at least once due to excessive drinking and that number is growing.
• 70% of Americans report having a family member or close friend who struggles with alcohol addiction and/or abuse.

If you or a loved one has suffered from alcohol poisoning, you need help. Call us today at 866.957.7885 for more information on what an alcohol addiction rehab center can do for you.

Who Experiences The Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning?

It can happen to anyone. You may be someone who’s binge-drinking for the first time or someone with an alcohol use disorder who’s overdoing it. Alcohol poisoning occurs when you drink more of the substance than your body can metabolize. As a general rule of thumb, your liver can only metabolize a limited amount of alcohol in any given hour.

Drinking two bottles of beer in those 60 minutes can overwhelm it. For hard liquor, the quantity is even lower. If you go over this amount during that time, the alcohol floods into your bloodstream. The drug now directly affects your vital organs, including the brain.

The result is alcohol poisoning. Although anyone can suffer it, several groups of people are at a much higher risk. These include:

• People with a history of binge-drinking or alcoholism. Those who drink far more than their friends and seem to have a resistance to the intoxicating effects of alcohol are also in danger. The more alcohol you drink, the more likely it is that you’ll develop symptoms of poisoning.
• People who take drugs and mix them with alcohol. The effects of these substances multiply if combined, significantly increasing your risk for poisoning. The same goes for mixing several kinds of drugs at once.
• Teenagers and young adults under 24. This group is more likely to binge-drink and engage in high-risk drinking habits for a number of reasons, some related to mental health. They often lack the ability or experience to recognize their limits as well as they should.

What Does Alcohol Poisoning Feel Like?

You’ll experience intoxication. Doing so includes the gradual inability to walk steadily, see clearly, and speak coherently. Soon, however, the symptoms become more worrisome. You may suddenly vomit as your body attempts to purge the poison from its system.

Some people pass out from the overabundance of alcohol in their systems. The gag reflex may shut down. It’s now possible for you to choke on your vomit as the body continues to try to purge the drug. Your heartbeat and breathing functions slow down, which results in a drop in body temperature.

If you’ve been vomiting and surviving, there’s a good chance that your blood sugar levels drop. This process makes you vulnerable to seizures. The loss of fluids can also result in dehydration. The latter may be a precursor for kidney or brain damage.

Has a Recent Incident of Alcohol Poisoning Been a Wake-up Call?

Do you deal with alcohol abuse? If you recently underwent alcohol poisoning, it might be your wake-up call to get serious about drug and alcohol rehab. At a dedicated alcohol addiction treatment facility, the alcohol detox  programs include:

• Gender-specific treatment that makes the experience comfortable and supportive
• Residential care, which lets you live at the center and avoid an early relapse
• 12 Step program attendance that encourages you to make lasting changes
• Individual and group therapy sessions for personal growth, psychiatric care, and behavioral treatment
• Family therapy, which assists those closest to you to heal and become your support network

Therapists customize your care protocol for you. For example, some program participants benefit from a 90-day treatment plan while others finish in 30. It’s not a race. Instead, it’s your opportunity to heal at a pace that works for you.

Getting the help you need is easy. Don’t wait to suffer from the symptoms of alcohol poisoning again. The caring therapists at the San Antonio Recovery Center want to help you overcome your use disorder. Call 866.957.7885 today for assistance.