You’re struggling with an alcohol use disorder. One day, you overdo it more than usual. Things went wrong, and you needed medical help. Were you suffering from alcohol poisoning symptoms?

Alcohol Poisoning Kills Six People a Day in the United States

Alcohol poisonings are not as rare as you might believe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn that six people die each day from the condition. Seventy-six percent of those deaths are among individuals between the ages of 35 and 64. Men account for three-quarters of these fatalities.

Understanding the Mechanics of Alcohol Poisoning Symptoms

Man hugging the commode definitely has alcohol poisoning symptoms.The reason for these deaths is the ingestion of large quantities of alcohol in one sitting. Binge drinking, which refers to five drinks for men (four for women) in a couple of hours, is the cause. It’s interesting to note that only about 30 percent of the deaths happen among people with an alcohol addiction.

By imbibing more alcohol than the liver can metabolize, the chemicals affect various organ systems in the body. You become confused and may suffer from seizures. Vomiting, while conscious or unconscious, can happen. The latter is particularly dangerous because it can present an asphyxiation problem.

Since alcohol is a nervous system depressant, it affects your body’s ability to breathe. Going below eight breaths per minute is one of the standard alcohol poisoning symptoms. Breathing may slow even more and become irregular. Your organs now fail to receive proper oxygenation, which can result in death.

Your body temperature goes down, and people have a difficult time waking you up. At this stage, you need outside help. Friends, who are with you, need to contact first responders. They should not leave you alone or let you “sleep it off” because you might not wake up.

What Affects Your Response to a Large Amount of Alcohol?

One person’s alcohol poisoning symptoms may not be the same as someone else’s. Factor in your weight, height, and general health. If you had a meal before drinking, you’re less likely to show alcohol poisoning symptoms right away. Another factor to consider is your physical tolerance for the drug.

No matter how you ended up experiencing an alcohol blackout and subsequent problems, let them serve as warning signs. This time, you survived. Next time, you may become a statistic. As alcohol continues to affect your vital organs, you quickly become more susceptible to its damaging chemicals.

Detox and Rehab are the Way Out

Maybe you fall into the 30 percent of adults who suffer from an alcohol use disorder. Perhaps you noticed that you are binging quite a bit more than you used to. Ending your addiction to alcohol now is imperative. Start with detox.

You move into a comfortable room at the detox facility. There, a team of medical experts works with you to overcome alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Medical monitoring ensures your comfort and physical safety. If necessary, you receive pharmacological support to keep you healthy.

Since seizure activity is a possibility, don’t try to quit cold turkey at home. Choose the safety of a detox facility instead. Next, you transition to rehab. There, you break the psychological dependence.

Typical treatments include one-on-one psychotherapy, group therapy sessions, and dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring mental health disorders. Attendance at 12 Step meetings is also possible for program participants who express an interest. The goal is to help you achieve the ability to live drug and alcohol-free after discharge.

Should You Live at the Facility?

Living at the facility is advantageous. But there are other options, too. Examples include:

If you’ve woken up to alcohol poisoning symptoms, take them as a serious warning. You need help. You don’t have to continue suffering alone. At Beaches Recovery, addiction specialists work with people just like you, who want to stop drinking. Call us at 866.605.0532 today to talk to us about changing your life.