Presentation
Resources: Alcohol Alcohol Presentation Read this first For an approximately hour long presentation on alcohol, using Step UP! [stepupprogram.org]
Know the danger signs Do not wait for all symptoms to be present. The person's BAC can continue to rise while they are passed out. It is dangerous to assume the person will be fine or will sleep it off. [wiu.edu]
Do not wait for all symptoms to be present. Be aware that a person who has passed out may die. If there is any suspicion of an alcohol overdose, call 911 for help. Don't try to guess the level of drunkenness. [shop.ucsc.edu]
An underage drinking epidemic is currently present, starting with elementary- and middle-school–aged children 9 to 13 years old and erupting during college. [uspharmacist.com]
Breathing is less than 12 times a minute or stops all together for longer than 10 seconds Mental confusion, stupor Vomiting Seizure Skin and/or lips are cold, pale, bluish in color What To Do: Call 911 immediately if any of the above signs are present [wellness.nmsu.edu]
Entire Body System
- Unconsciousness
If the person aspirates, or inhales, the vomit while unconscious, they could stop breathing. [sunrisehouse.com]
This can happen even if someone is unconscious. [drinkwise.org.au]
A person who consumes a fatal dose of alcohol may stop breathing or choke on their vomit while unconscious. As alcohol levels continue to rise in the body, a person who looks asleep may very well be unconscious.” [futurity.org]
An unconscious body will still try to expel the poison by vomiting, and you could choke on the vomit and end up in a coma or even die. [uleth.ca]
DO NOT give the person a cold shower; the shock of the cold could cause unconsciousness. DO NOT give the person caffeine as this will only make them wide awake while drunk. [shcs.ucdavis.edu]
Respiratoric
- Aspiration
The person could choke on his/her vomit and asphyxiate or develop aspirational pneumonia. [wiu.edu]
But there is nothing funny about the aspiration of vomit leading to asphyxiation or the poisoning of the respiratory center in the brain, both of which can result in death. [collegedrinkingprevention.gov]
An unconscious person should not be left alone, attempting to make the person vomit could lead to choking or accidental aspiration – breathing vomit into the lungs – and cause deadly lung damage. 2,4 Treatment of alcohol poisoning includes, but not limited [alcoholanswers.org]
That means someone with alcohol poisoning may choke on his or her own vomit or accidentally inhale (aspirate) vomit into the lungs which could cause a fatal lung injury. [awareawakealive.org]
Never ignore someone who is having a bad time or is sick Don’t give the person a cold shower; the shock of the cold could cause unconsciousness Don’t give the semiconscious person food or fluid’s (not even water) it could cause vomiting, choking or aspiration [uleth.ca]
- Respiratory Distress
Patients presenting at hospitals are not properly diagnosed Deaths are attributed to an effect of alcohol poisoning, such as choking, falling or respiratory distress Medical causes of death do not include alcohol poisoning in the statistics of some countries [safeproof.org]
Gastrointestinal
- Choking
With no gag reflex, a person who drinks to the point of passing out is in danger of choking. This, in turn, could lead to death when someone chokes on or breathes in, their own vomit. [ddap.pa.gov]
The person could choke on his/her vomit and asphyxiate or develop aspirational pneumonia. [wiu.edu]
There is then the danger of choking on vomit, which could cause death by asphyxiation in a person who is not conscious because of intoxication. [shop.ucsc.edu]
"Alcohol depresses the nerves that control involuntary actions like gag reflex and breathing, which prevent choking." [geisinger.org]
This can lead to choking, coma, and even death. [sciencenetlinks.com]
- Gagging
Alcohol acts as a depressant, hindering signals in the brain that control automatic responses such as the gag reflex. Alcohol also can irritate the stomach, causing vomiting. [ddap.pa.gov]
Vomiting and gagging: An overdose on alcohol suppresses the body’s gag reflex, while also upsetting the stomach. [sunrisehouse.com]
Without a properly functioning gag reflex, there is a risk of choking on vomit, which could kill an unconscious person. [alcohol.stanford.edu]
People who are at risk for alcohol poisoning can lose the ability to swallow because their gag reflex, a motor response from the body that prevents choking, is impaired. [sciencenetlinks.com]
"Alcohol depresses the nerves that control involuntary actions like gag reflex and breathing, which prevent choking." [geisinger.org]
Psychiatrical
- Euphoria
[…] make poor/risky sexual choices. .11 - .15% Drunk — "high," balance very impaired, judgment, memory and motor skills impaired, may forget how many drinks you have had past this pint, men may have trouble functioning sexually. .16 - .19% Very Drunk — Euphoria [utdallas.edu]
Impairment generally begins with mild feelings of warmth and euphoria. Gradually, inhibitions are lowered and moods become more pronounced. [addictioncenter.com]
The initial euphoria of being tipsy precedes confusion, impaired judgment, exaggerated emotions, feeling sick, unconsciousness, and, in the worst-case scenario, death. [newportacademy.com]
Urogenital
- Incontinence
[…] odor of alcohol Confusion or disorientation Lack of coordination and/or an inability to walk Dulled responses Cold, clammy skin Bluish skin, especially around the lips or under the fingernails Irregular pulse and/or slow heart rate Urinary and/or fecal incontinence [my.clevelandclinic.org]
However, depending on the severity of symptoms, other treatments may include: a tube inserted into their windpipe to help with breathing an intravenous drip to manage hydration, blood glucose, and vitamin levels a urinary catheter if they become incontinent [medicalnewstoday.com]
Severely intoxicated people often smell of alcohol and may have undesirable attributes, like incontinence, that make them unpleasant to be around. [verywellhealth.com]
Inserting a urinary catheter if incontinence becomes an issue. Pumping the stomach to remove excess alcohol from the body. Performing dialysis to accelerate how quickly the kidneys remove toxins from the system. [alcoholaddictioncenter.org]
Neurologic
- Stupor
Critical Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning: Unconsciousness or inability to rouse the person Mental confusion or stupor Vomiting Seizures Slow breathing (fewer than 8 breaths per minute, but everyone is different! [wiu.edu]
Critical Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning Mental confusion, stupor, coma, or person cannot be roused. Vomiting. Seizures. Slow breathing (fewer than eight breaths per minute). Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths). [shop.ucsc.edu]
Signs of alcohol poisoning include: Confusion and stupor Vomiting Seizures Slow or irregular breathing Hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature Unconsciousness Next: Drunk Driving [sciencenetlinks.com]
[…] alcohol poising include: loss of balance, loss of coordination, confusion feeling sick (nausea) and being sick (vomiting) slow breathing (less than 8 breaths a minute) seizures (fits) low body temperature skin that is cold and clammy or pale and bluish stupor [www2.hse.ie]
Exhibit mental confusion, stupor, or coma. Have seizures, convulsions, or rigid spasms. Vomit while asleep or unconscious and do not awaken. [healthyhorns.utexas.edu]
- Dizziness
If you do: Around 10-12 units your co-ordination will be seriously impaired, placing you at high risk of having an accident you may stagger around or feel unstable on your feet you'll feel drowsy or dizzy the amount of alcohol in your body will begin [your.md]
If you do: Around 10 to 12 units your co-ordination will be seriously impaired, placing you at high risk of having an accident you may stagger around or feel unstable on your feet you'll feel drowsy or dizzy the amount of alcohol in your body will begin [nhs.uk]
.16 - .19% Very Drunk — Euphoria may give way to unpleasant feelings (depression), difficulty talking/walking/standing, sharp increase in chances of physically injuring yourself or others, may experience a blackout at this level or higher, nausea, dizzy [utdallas.edu]
If you do: Around 10-12 units your co-ordination will be seriously impaired, placing you at high risk of having an accident you may stagger around or feel unstable on your feet you’ll feel drowsy or dizzy the amount of alcohol in your body will begin [everestpharmacy.co.uk]
- Involuntary Movements
movement of your eyes a BAC of 200-400mg per dl, you would have double vision, feel sick, have hypothermia and severely slurred speech a BAC of over 400mg per dl, you would have severe breathing difficulties and go into a coma followed by death At very [everestpharmacy.co.uk]
- Convulsions
Have seizures, convulsions, or rigid spasms. Vomit while asleep or unconscious and do not awaken. [healthyhorns.utexas.edu]
- Somnolence
[…] hepatic dysfunction, a benzodiazepine with a short duration of action (e.g., oxazepam) may be preferred to prevent oversedation. 9,10 The cost and potential for abuse should also be considered. 10 Doses must be individualized with a goal to maintain light somnolence [uspharmacist.com]
Treatment
Some patients may also develop acute renal failure.1-3 Despite intensive treatment, morbidity and mortality of these poisonings continue to be very high, mainly because of the delay in diagnosis and start of treatment. [revistanefrologia.com]
Alcohol Poisoning Treatment & Prevention at Dignity Health Treatment for alcohol poisoning requires emergency medical care. [dignityhealth.org]
Our focus is on early intervention and comprehensive treatment, all within the context of a compassionate and respectful treatment environment. [kenseeleycommunities.com]
We can answer any questions you may have about the recovery and treatment process. Get in touch with a treatment specialist now, and get started on your road to recovery. [alcoholrehabguide.org]
Programs that do exist are based on models in adults with no evidence-based guidelines on effective alcohol poisoning treatment in adolescents. [uspharmacist.com]
Prognosis
Treatment of alcohol poisoning includes, but not limited to: Monitoring Oxygen therapy IV fluids to prevent dehydration Kidney dialysis if methanol was ingested or in severe cases of isopropyl alcohol poisoning Once the patient passes 24 hours, the prognosis [alcoholanswers.org]
Epidemiology
2004: Epidemiology, clinical features and prognostic signs. J Intern Med 258:181??190, 2005. [16] Brahmi N, Blel Y, Abidi N, Kouraichi N, Thabet H, Hedhili A, Amamou M. Methanol poisoning in Tunisia: Report of 16 cases. [revistanefrologia.com]
When accompanied with changes in gonadal steroid and stress-related hormone release, these may lead to initiation patterns of alcohol and drug consumption. 2 Epidemiology When adolescents drink alcohol today, they consume a larger quantity with a clearer [uspharmacist.com]
Pathophysiology
Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach. 7th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2008:1084-1085. 5. Executive summary. Report to Congress on the prevention and reduction of underage drinking. [uspharmacist.com]
Prevention
This typically includes: Careful monitoring Prevention of breathing or choking problems Oxygen therapy Fluids given through a vein (intravenously) to prevent dehydration Use of vitamins and glucose to help prevent serious complications of alcohol poisoning [drugs.com]
"Alcohol depresses the nerves that control involuntary actions like gag reflex and breathing, which prevent choking." [geisinger.org]
If the person must lie down, make sure to turn his or her head to the side — this helps prevent choking. Try to keep the person awake to prevent loss of consciousness. Don't be afraid to get help. [ddap.pa.gov]
If the person must lie down, make sure to turn his or her head to the side — this helps prevent choking. Try to keep the person awake to prevent loss of consciousness. [mayoclinic.org]