Health Options
September is party season on many college campuses and good times will be had by many, but not all. We all know that drinking and driving is a mixture that kills. However, it is not often appreciated that alcohol, by itself, can kill. Watch for signs of alcohol
poisoning; it can kill youTake the case of Daniel. It was Daniel's 21st birthday and he was partying at a fraternity. A fraternity brother suggested 21 shots of vodka to celebrate. Daniel's blood alcohol concentration shot to four times the legal limit for driving. He passed out. No one paid him much attention other than an occasional comment about how he couldn't "hold his liquor." Eventually, someone realized he was dead.
The coroner reported death from acute alcohol intoxication (poisoning).
Everyone old enough to drink should know the signs of alcohol poisoning. Most students think the worst that can happen is passing out and getting a hangover. Many are surprised to find death can occur from acute intoxication.
Also, it is not widely understood that some individuals can be poisoned by alcohol at much lower doses than others. The liver is the key organ that metabolizes or breaks down alcohol. In most people, the liver deals with small to moderate amounts of alcohol with no problem. In fact, it just "burns" it up as an energy source, getting about seven calories per gram of alcohol.
However, it takes time for the liver to detoxify or break down alcohol. The average person needs one to two hours to metabolize the alcohol in two typical drinks. When the amount of alcohol consumed is greater than the liver's capacity to break it down, blood levels of alcohol increase. This profoundly affects the brain and other parts of the nervous system.
Acute alcohol poisoning occurs after drinking too much too fast. Some drinkers become acutely intoxicated after ingesting relatively small amounts because all livers are not created equal.
About half of those of Asian or South American ancestry have very low levels of a liver enzyme that helps break down alcohol. They feel the effects of alcohol at much lower doses. They experience a flushing of the face and increased heart rate. A much smaller dose of alcohol would kill them.
Acute alcohol poisoning must be recognized by specific signs rather than by the amount of alcohol consumed. The amount consumed, however, is obviously a big factor.
Signs of potentially fatal alcohol poisoning include:
>> Can't stand and walk. Is unconscious or semiconscious.
>> Does not respond when talked to or pinched.
>> Has slow or irregular breathing and repeated episodes of vomiting.
>> Skin is clammy, pale or bluish.
Call 911. This is a medical emergency. While awaiting help, turn the person on his or her side and place a pillow behind the back. This is done to reduce the risk of choking should the person vomit. Stay with the person until medical help arrives.
Key signs that someone may soon experience alcohol poisoning may begin with difficulty standing or walking, accompanied by difficulty speaking or obnoxious or unruly behavior. Awareness of surroundings is diminished and breathing becomes difficult. The intoxicated individual may have a fever or chills.
These signs are especially dangerous if the drinker has taken other drugs along with the alcohol.
Astute observation of these signs and taking the correct action could save a friend's life.
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Joannie Dobbs, Ph.D., C.N.S., is a food and nutrition consultant
and owner of Exploring New Concepts, a nutritional consulting firm.
She is also responsible for the nutritional analyses
indicated by an asterisk in this section.Alan Titchenal, Ph.D., C.N.S., is a sports nutritionist in the
Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Science,
University of Hawaii-Manoa.