Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol poisoning is acute ethanol overdose. Ethanol depresses the central nervous system by strengthening inhibitory GABA-A transmission and reducing excitatory NMDA glutamate transmission. As the dose rises, impaired judgment and poor coordination can progress to sedation, loss of protective airway reflexes, respiratory depression, coma, and death. Absorption does not stop when the person takes the last drink. Alcohol remaining in the stomach and small intestine may continue entering the bloodstream for roughly 30 to 40 minutes or longer. A person who has passed out can therefore deteriorate after drinking has stopped. “Sleeping it off” is not a safe plan. BAC provides context but does not replace assessment. Impairment of judgment and coordination begins at relatively low levels. A BAC of approximately 0.08% is the level associated with binge-drinking classification, while a BAC around 0.31% or higher is associated with life-threatening CNS depression, loss of consciousness, and respiratory arrest. These values are not dependable predictions for an individual: chronic heavy alcohol use may produce tolerance and a deceptively awake appearance without preventing hypoxia, aspiration, hypoglycemia, or death. Alcohol becomes more dangerous...