When you look at alcohol poisoning statistics, you probably associate alcohol poisoning with young teens or binge drinkers – someone who decided to drink a whole fifth of vodka in an hour or didn’t understand their limits. The facts about alcohol poisoning are pretty simple: it IS lethal, and it can happen to just about anyone who drinks too much at one time. It is not limited only to teenagers and college students, but also grown adults who “should know better” can accidentally give themselves alcohol poisoning.
Alcohol poisoning is what happens when someone consumes a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time. The amount of alcohol is takes for a person to be at risk for alcohol poisoning depends largely on their age, height, and weight, since alcohol poisoning is the direct result of their blood alcohol levels. Males tend to be able to drink slightly more than females, however that is not always the case. Typically for most people, only 1-2 servings of alcohol can cause them to be over the “legal limit” of alcohol, meaning they would be arrested for a DUI, even if they do not feel or appear to be drunk. Tolerance is another issue to consider. While tolerance may reduce a person’s feeling of being drunk, it does not make any difference in the concentration of alcohol in their bloodstream.
Alcohol poisoning is also dangerous when alcohol is combined with other drugs or medications. This can also be fatal and lead to overdosing, since the combination of alcohol and drugs can further reduce a person’s heartbeat and breathing to a dangerous point.
It is estimated that over 50,000 cases of alcohol poisoning are reported each year. According to alcoholism poisoning statistics, over 1 in 1000 cases of alcohol poisoning result in death. However, this statistic is not current, so it is not known for sure how many deaths and cases of alcohol poisoning take place. The lack of up to date and accurate alcohol poisoning statistics is very alarming, since if people were aware of how many deaths and alcohol poisoning cases there were each year, as well as the effects of alcohol poisoning, it could help in alcohol abuse prevention plans.
It’s important to know the signs of alcohol poisoning and the treatment for alcohol poisoning. You never know when you may be faced with an emergency – college students at a frat party aren’t the only ones who need to be aware of the alcohol poisoning facts. Learning the symptoms and calling 911 or the poison control center is the difference between someone “sleeping it off” and saving a life.
Who is at risk for alcohol poisoning?
Teenagers and college students experimenting with alcohol or pressured into drinking games
Chronic alcoholics who don’t feel drunk even after consuming large quantities in short periods of time
Alcoholics who relapse soon after leaving a treatment center
Anyone who mixes alcohol while taking prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs
Small children who are tempted to try anything and everything may drink it not knowing what it is
The only reassuring thing about alcohol poisoning is that alcohol poisoning is preventable. Educating people about the dangers of drinking too much alcohol at once can help many avoid binge drinking or other unhealthy behaviors that lead to excessive alcohol consumption. Learning the facts about alcohol poisoning can prevent you from being just another person listed under alcohol poisoning statistics.
