- August 19, 2025
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Their heart rate has likely slowed as well, and their body temperature is dropping dangerously low. These effects typically start to occur when alcohol reaches a certain percentage of a person’s bloodstream, known as their blood alcohol content (BAC). There are no medications specifically used to treat alcohol poisoning. Rather, medications are given to help reduce the effects of symptoms that occur.
If someone near you has these symptoms, call 911 (or your local emergency services number) or take them to the nearest emergency room. In addition to being aware of alcohol poisoning symptoms, you should also understand what you can do to prevent it from happening. More than 2,200 people die from alcohol poisoning each year, an average of six people per day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Most are men, and three in four people are between the ages of 35 and 65.
Some people with AUD have developed a dependence on alcohol to function. They may experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms if they abruptly abstain from drinking. In these cases, a person needs to consult a doctor to determine how to best treat their AUD.
With all these factors at play, it’s almost impossible to work out how much alcohol will kill you. It might not be something you tend to think about when you’re relaxing with a few drinks and a few friends. Edmund has an extensive background in SUD research and medical writing, working collaboratively with doctors, substance use disorder specialists, and clinical experts across all content on Recovered. You should never treat alcohol poisoning by yourself — always call 911 as soon as alcohol poisoning is suspected.
The mission of the campaign is to help Service members learn to drink responsibly, if they choose to drink alcohol. What’s the deal with mixing alcohol with prescription and over-the-counter medications? At this stage, a person no longer responds to the things happening around or to them.
At this level, alcohol suppresses the part of the brain that controls basic life-support functions like breathing and heart rate. It’s a pattern of consuming five or more alcoholic drinks for men or four drinks for women within two hours. This lack of control often leads to excessive drinking, especially when participating in risky activities like drinking games.
Death occurs when the brain no longer sends signals to keep the heart beating or lungs functioning. Physiologically, once alcohol enters the bloodstream, it circulates throughout the body and affects every organ. The liver can process alcohol at a roughly constant rate—about one standard drink per hour for a healthy adult.
When someone loses consciousness from drinking too much, it could mean their BAC has risen to dangerously high levels. Even if they appear to be sleeping, their unconscious state puts them at risk for choking on vomit, respiratory failure, or other complications. It’s crucial to remember that alcohol overdose can happen at lower consumption levels if someone’s body cannot handle the amount of alcohol consumed quickly.
Individuals with low tolerance are still susceptible to the adverse effects of alcohol, including alcohol poisoning, if they consume amounts beyond their body’s capacity to metabolize safely. Vomiting is an early symptom of alcohol overdose, serving as the body’s defense mechanism to expel excessive alcohol and prevent further absorption. This reflex is triggered when alcohol irritates the stomach lining and stimulates the central nervous system. While vomiting helps reduce the amount of alcohol entering the bloodstream, it also poses significant risks. In cases of severe intoxication, the gag reflex is suppressed, increasing the danger of aspiration, where vomit is inhaled into the lungs, potentially leading to choking or aspiration pneumonia.
Secondly, alcohol overdose can be challenging to prevent, especially in teenagers and young adults who are more likely to engage in binge drinking and high-intensity drinking. High-intensity drinking is drinking two or more times those binge-drinking thresholds. It is important to recognize these symptoms and seek immediate medical help by calling emergency services.
Other names for alcohol poisoning include alcohol overdose and ethanol toxicity. A healthcare provider may also suggest that individuals seek treatment for alcohol use or talk to a mental health professional. An individual may want to seek treatment for alcohol use or another mental health condition such as depression or anxiety. Binge drinking is defined as drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08% or higher. An alcohol overdose occurs when a person has so much alcohol in their bloodstream that certain bodily functions may begin to shut down. Because an alcohol overdose can suppress a person’s gag reflex, they could choke and possibly die if they vomit while unconscious and lying on their back.
In addition to the serious risk of death, alcohol poisoning can also lead to irreversible brain damage. Other long-term complications of heavy alcohol use include addiction, cancer, cirrhosis, liver disease, vitamin deficiencies, and mental health problems. It also increases the risk of unintentional injuries due to falls, drowning, assault, and car accidents. Alcohol use and taking opioids or sedative-hypnotics, such as sleep and anti-anxiety medications, can increase your risk of an overdose. Examples of these medications include sleep aids such as zolpidem and eszopiclone, and benzodiazepines such as diazepam and alprazolam.
Men are more likely than women to drink heavily, resulting Drug rehabilitation in a greater risk for an alcohol overdose. It’s not necessary to have all the above symptoms before seeking medical help. A person with alcohol poisoning who has passed out or can’t wake up could die. They are best for people who have a high motivation to recover and cannot leave their responsibilities at home, work, or school.