Alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency, and you should not wait to see whether someone gets better on their own. If a person cannot stay awake, has trouble breathing, vomits while unconscious, has a seizure, or shows other signs of an alcohol overdose, call 911 immediately.1
When you are frightened for someone you care about, it can be difficult to know whether they are severely intoxicated or in immediate danger. You do not need to make that distinction before getting help. Emergency responders can assess the situation, while waiting may give the alcohol more time to affect the person’s breathing, heart rate, and body temperature.
At Spokane Falls Recovery Center, we work with individuals and families affected by alcohol use disorder. Knowing how to recognize alcohol poisoning and respond quickly can save a life.
Call 911 if you think someone may have alcohol poisoning. Stay with them, place them on their side if they are unconscious but breathing, and tell emergency responders what they drank and whether they took any other substances. Do not give them coffee, put them in a cold shower, make them walk, or assume they can sleep it off.
What is alcohol poisoning, and how is it different from being drunk?
Alcohol poisoning, also called an alcohol overdose, occurs when the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream begins to shut down areas of the brain that control breathing, heart rate, body temperature, and other functions that keep someone alive.1
Someone who is drunk may have slurred speech, poor balance, slowed reactions, or impaired judgment. Alcohol poisoning goes further. The person may lose consciousness, breathe too slowly, vomit without waking, or lose the reflexes that normally protect them from choking.
Blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, measures the amount of alcohol in the blood. BAC levels do not affect everyone in exactly the same way, since tolerance, body composition, medications, food intake, and the speed of drinking all influence the response. In people without an established tolerance, BAC levels between 0.30% and 0.40% often cause unconsciousness, while levels of 0.40% or higher may be fatal.2 You should never wait for a BAC reading before calling for help when someone shows signs of an overdose.
Binge drinking raises the risk because the person consumes alcohol faster than the body can clear it. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking as a pattern that typically brings BAC to 0.08% or higher. For a typical adult, this often corresponds to four or more drinks for a woman or five or more for a man within about two hours.3 Teenagers, college students, and other young adults may face a particular risk because binge and high-intensity drinking occur more often within these age groups.1
The risk does not end when the person takes their last drink. Alcohol that remains in the stomach and intestines can continue entering the bloodstream, so BAC may keep rising after someone stops drinking or passes out.1
Warning signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning
If someone shows any signs of alcohol poisoning, call 911 immediately. Do not wait for every symptom to appear.
Alcohol poisoning symptoms may include:
- Confusion or stupor: The person may not understand where they are, respond normally, or recognize people around them.
- Difficulty staying conscious: They may repeatedly pass out, stop responding, or remain impossible to wake.
- Slow breathing: Fewer than eight breaths per minute signals a dangerous reduction in breathing.
- Irregular breathing: A gap of 10 seconds or longer between breaths requires immediate medical attention.
- Vomiting while unconscious: Alcohol can suppress the gag reflex, which increases the risk of choking or inhaling vomit into the lungs.
- Pale, gray, or bluish skin: A color change may indicate that the person is not getting enough oxygen.
- Cold or clammy skin: Alcohol can lower body temperature and contribute to hypothermia.
- Seizures: A seizure during heavy intoxication requires emergency care.
- A slow heart rate: Alcohol can interfere with the brain functions that regulate heart rate.
- Dulled reflexes: The person may lose their normal gag reflex or ability to protect their airway.
You do not need to count breaths perfectly or decide whether someone has crossed a particular BAC threshold. If they cannot stay awake, breathe normally, or respond to you, call 911. Alcohol poisoning can lead to permanent brain injury or death without timely care.
What to do if someone has alcohol poisoning
When someone may have alcohol poisoning, focus on getting emergency help and keeping them as safe as possible until responders arrive.
- Call 911 immediately. Tell the dispatcher that you suspect alcohol poisoning and follow any instructions they give you. Do not wait for the person to show every possible symptom.
- Stay with the person. Someone who has passed out can vomit, choke, fall, or stop breathing. Continue watching their breathing and responsiveness while you wait for help.
- Place them on their side if they are unconscious but breathing. The recovery position helps keep the airway open and allows vomit to drain rather than block the airway. If they stop breathing, tell the dispatcher immediately and begin CPR if instructed.
- Help them sit upright or lean forward if they are vomiting and awake. This position can reduce the chance of choking. Do not force an unconscious person to sit or stand.
- Keep them warm. Cover them with a blanket or coat, since alcohol can lower body temperature. Do not place them in a hot bath or shower.
- Give responders as much information as you can. Tell them what the person drank, approximately how much they consumed, when they drank it, and whether they used medications or other drugs. Share any health conditions or medication allergies you know about.
Do not worry that calling for help will make the situation seem more serious than it is. Emergency responders would rather evaluate someone early than arrive after their condition has worsened.
Once the immediate emergency has passed, consider whether this incident reflects an ongoing pattern. If someone has repeatedly lost consciousness, needed emergency care, or struggled to stop drinking, a medically supervised alcohol detox program can help them stop more safely and plan for continued treatment.
Dangerous myths about alcohol poisoning
People often rely on familiar “sobering up” methods because they want to help. Unfortunately, these methods do not lower BAC, and several can create additional risks.
Myth: Let them sleep it off
A sleeping or unconscious person can still experience worsening alcohol poisoning. Alcohol may continue entering the bloodstream after drinking stops, while a suppressed gag reflex can prevent the person from clearing vomit from their airway.1
If you cannot wake someone or they do not respond normally, call 911. Do not assume they only need rest.
Myth: Give them coffee
Caffeine may make someone feel slightly more alert, but it does not remove alcohol from the bloodstream or reverse an overdose. Coffee can also create the appearance that someone has improved even though alcohol continues to affect their breathing, coordination, and judgment.1
Myth: Make them walk around
Walking does not help the body process alcohol faster. Asking someone who has poor balance, slowed reactions, or reduced awareness to walk may lead to a fall or another injury.
Keep the person sitting on the ground or lying safely on their side rather than trying to move them unnecessarily.
Myth: Put them in a cold shower
A cold shower does not lower BAC. Since alcohol already interferes with body temperature regulation, cold water may worsen hypothermia. A shower or bath also creates a risk of falling, drowning, or losing consciousness without support.
Myth: Make them vomit
Never try to induce vomiting in someone who is heavily intoxicated. Alcohol can suppress the gag reflex, so the person may choke or inhale vomit into their lungs. If they vomit on their own, keep them leaning forward while awake or on their side if they are unconscious and breathing.
When does drinking become a dangerous problem?
An episode of alcohol poisoning can happen during a single night of rapid drinking, but it can also point to a drinking pattern that has become harder to control. You may find yourself thinking about how close the situation came to becoming fatal, whether something similar has happened before, or whether drinking regularly leads to blackouts, injuries, arguments, or missed responsibilities.
NIAAA defines heavy drinking as four or more drinks on any day or eight or more drinks per week for women, and five or more on any day or 15 or more per week for men.3 These numbers describe higher-risk drinking patterns, but you do not have to reach a weekly threshold before alcohol creates a serious problem. One alcohol poisoning event deserves attention on its own.
Alcohol use disorder exists on a spectrum from mild to severe. A medical professional may assess whether you drink more than intended, have tried unsuccessfully to cut back, experience strong cravings, continue drinking despite consequences, or need more alcohol to feel the same effect.
If you only focus on getting through the immediate emergency, the drinking pattern that led to it may remain. You might tell yourself that the night was an exception, while still feeling concerned that you or someone close to you cannot reliably limit alcohol use. Professional alcohol addiction treatment can help you understand what has been happening and identify the level of support that fits your needs.
Getting help for alcohol addiction in Spokane, WA
Spokane Falls Recovery Center provides individualized addiction treatment for adults in Spokane and surrounding communities. As a Joint Commission-accredited facility, the center offers medical detox, residential treatment, a partial hospitalization program, an intensive outpatient program, and support for patients who also have co-occurring mental health concerns.
For someone who has developed alcohol dependence, suddenly stopping without medical care can bring its own risks. During medical detox, the medical team monitors withdrawal symptoms, manages complications, and develops a plan for the next appropriate level of care. Treatment can then address the habits, emotional concerns, relationships, and circumstances connected to alcohol use.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with alcohol, call Spokane Falls Recovery Center at 844.962.2775 or reach out online to speak with the admissions team. Spokane Falls Recovery Center serves Spokane, Spokane Valley, Eastern Washington, and surrounding communities.
Sources:
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Understanding the Dangers of Alcohol Overdose, Accessed July 2026.
- Merck Manual Professional Edition, Alcohol Toxicity and Withdrawal, Accessed July 2026.
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, The Basics: Defining How Much Alcohol Is Too Much, Accessed July 2026.
