Alcohol Misuse

An alcohol overdose is when there is too much alcohol in the bloodstream for the body to handle. Areas of the brain controlling basic functions- such as breathing, heart rate, and temperature control- begin to shut down when there  is too much alcohol in the bloodstream.

Consuming alcohol with opioids or sedative-hypnotics (sleep and anti-anxiety medications) increases the risk of an overdose. Consuming alcohol and other drugs intensifies their effects and may lead to an overdose even with small amounts of alcohol.

Critical Signs and Symptoms of an Alcohol Overdose

• Mental confusion, stupor
• Difficulty remaining conscious or inability to wake up
• Vomiting
• Seizures
• Slow breathing (fewer than 8 breaths per second)
• Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths)
• Slow heart rate
• Clammy skin
• Dulled responses- such as no gag reflex

An individual is in danger of choking on their vomit and dying from lack of oxygen if they have no gag reflex. 

If you believe someone has had an alcohol overdose, call 9-1-1 immediately. Do not wait for them to have all the symptoms- someone who has passed out can die.

Use the acronym CUPS to remember the symptoms:

Cold skin

Unresponsive to pinches or shakes

Puking

Slow breathing

Do not give them cold showers, feed them food or water, force them vomit, or have them walk since these steps do not reverse the effects of alcohol overdose and may make things worse.

While waiting for medical help to arrive: 

• Be prepared to provide information to the responders: what the person drank and how much, other drugs they too, and any known allergies, medications, or existing health conditions
• Keep the intoxicated person on the ground- either sitting or in a partially upright position- to keep them safe from falling and injuring themselves.  Do not leave them alone. 
• Keep the intoxicated person on the ground- either sitting or in a partially upright position- to keep them safe from falling and injuring themselves.  Do not leave them alone. 
• Help them if they begin to vomit (but do not force them to vomit). Lean them forward to prevent choking and if they are unconscious or lying down, roll them onto one side with an ear to the ground.  

If you call 9-1-1 for a believed overdose you are protected under D.C.’s The Good Samaritan Overdose Prevention Amendment Act of 2012. It provides limited legal protection from arrest, charge, and prosecution for people who witness or experience a drug or alcohol related overdose and seek medical assistance. 

Law enforcement officers who see small amounts of illegal drugs or paraphernalia at a scene will not consider these violations to be crimes for the person experiencing the overdose or the person who called emergency medical services. 

These protections also extend to those on supervision status (probation, release pending trial, sentencing, appeal, or completion of sentence). 

Doctors and hospitals are legally required to protect the privacy of all patients, they are not allowed to report back to a school about any student’s visti to the emergency room or any other service.  

Try to follow these tips when drinking alcohol to decrease the potential harms and risks of drinking alcohol

• Drink in safe environments, where you are comfortable
• Eat before you drink and hydrate with non-alcoholic drinks while you drink 
• Buy less so you use less
• Plan out your drinking- set a time limit before you start and set a limit to the amount you will drink. Stick to your plan and don’t feel pressured to drink at the pace of your peers
• Plan alcohol free days as well!
• Do not use alcohol when you have to drive or use other heavy machinery, when you are using other drugs or medicine, when you have o make an important decision, when you’re providing care to others, and when you’re breastfeeding or pregnant.