7 Stages of Alcohol Intoxication: Symptoms & Treatment

More resources for a variety of healthcare professionals can be found in the Additional Links for Patient Care. In some countries, it is also an offense to serve alcohol to an already-intoxicated person,[53] and, often, alcohol can only be sold by persons qualified to serve responsibly through alcohol server training. When someone is experiencing intoxication, there are strategies that can stages of alcohol intoxication help them cope and remain safe. Ensuring the individual’s immediate safety is essential, but supportive care as they gradually recover from intoxication is also important. Alcohol intoxication is a common cause of emergency room visits in the United States. It can also result in substance intoxication delirium, a type of delirium that is induced by consuming alcohol and other substances.

• The confusion stage of intoxication occurs when someone reaches a BAC of 0.18 to 0.30.
• If an individual drinks alcohol on an empty stomach, their BAC usually peaks within 30–90 minutes.
• The NIAAA Core Resource on Alcohol can help you each step of the way.
• A 2016 study found that very intoxicated people underestimate how drunk they are, how extreme their drinking is, and how likely their drinking is to affect their health.
• However, this does not change a person’s BAC, even though it may help them feel temporarily more alert.
• People who are left to “sleep it off” may end up experiencing hazardously slowed breathing or complete respiratory arrest, or they may aspirate on their own vomit.

Excitement (0.09 – 0.25% BAC)

FSD Pharma cannot give any assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to have been correct. This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. When a person consumes alcohol, the full effects may take some time to become apparent.

• Particularly in regular drinkers, symptoms and the BAC do not necessarily relate to each other, making an accurate measurement beneficial.
• At this stage, you will no longer respond to what’s happening around or to you.
• It takes about 1 hour for the average adult to process one unit of alcohol, which is 10 milliliters (ml) or 8 grams.
• The level of intoxication depends on how much alcohol has been consumed.

The Six Stages of Alcohol Intoxication: How Dangerous Is Too Much?

• Because the amount of alcohol needed to reach various states of intoxication can vary depending on the individual, what might be a fatal dose for one person may not be for another.
• Entirely unconscious, a person’s body temperature will drop, breathing will become shallow, circulation will slow, motor functions will no longer present, and their gag reflex will be gone.
• At this stage, there are typically no noticeable signs of intoxication.
• Celebrating at parties, cheering a favorite sports team, and enjoying get-togethers after work are common ways to relax or be with friends.
• While you wait, make sure the intoxicated person remains upright and awake.

When BAC reaches high levels, blackouts (gaps in memory), loss of consciousness (passing out), and death can occur. The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper offers comprehensive addiction treatment for drug and alcohol addictions and co-occurring mental health conditions. While the risk of death begins in stage five with a BAC as low as 0.25%, death is pretty much inevitable when your BAC is 0.50% or higher. At this stage, alcohol inhibits your brain so much that it cannot maintain the functions needed to keep you alive. While death may be avoided with a BAC this high if you are on life support equipment, this level of medical care will need to be in place well before you reach this level.

Your Brain on Alcohol

A person in the Severe Impairment Stage can also become numb and insensitive to pain. Behavioral Signs In the Euphoria Stage, a person may show lowered inhibitions and become more chatty and self-confident. Signs of impaired judgement can include becoming more careless with money, making irrational statements and showing difficulty in coordinating precise movements. At this stage, there are typically no noticeable signs of intoxication. Knowing the 5 Stages of Intoxication can help alcohol servers and bartenders count drinks and effectively observe customer behavior. The time a person should wait after drinking before they drive depends on the amount of alcohol they have consumed.

Alcohol Server Training

It’s imperative to drink responsibly and seek help when patterns of misuse emerge. Everyone has a role in promoting safe alcohol consumption and supporting those in need. The stage or degree of intoxication a person experiences depends on their blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

• They can no longer stand, let alone walk, and may also be throwing up.
• It is important to remember that symptoms will often worsen the longer you wait.
• As people drink more, they begin to have more pronounced impairment in their balance, coordination, speech, and attention.
• The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper offers comprehensive addiction treatment for drug and alcohol addictions and co-occurring mental health conditions.
• Some states have higher penalties for people who drive with high BAC (0.15 to 0.20 or above) due to the increased risk of fatal accidents.

Outpatient programs are often part of aftercare programs once you complete an inpatient or PHP program. For outpatient treatment to be effective, the person needs to have a stable home situation that is supportive of recovery. Medical care professionals treating patients for alcohol poisoning should check for possible Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). BetterHelp offers affordable mental health care via phone, video, or live-chat. At a BAC of 0.45 or above, you are likely to die from alcohol intoxication.