Excessive alcohol consumption can cause serious, sometimes life-threatening consequences. Blackout drinking is a dangerous type of alcohol consumption that can cause a temporary period of memory loss. It can occur when someone consumes alcohol in a way that causes a high blood alcohol concentration (BAC).
This article will explore blackout drinking. You will learn:
- What happens during a blackout
- What can cause blacking out while drinking
- What factors can impact your BAC
- The risks of blacking out while drinking
- How to prevent a blackout
- Where to find alcohol abuse treatment
If you or someone you love require treatment for alcohol abuse or addiction, you are not alone. Contact the intake team at Archstone Behavioral Health to learn more about our programs. You can also ask questions or schedule appointments.
What is an Alcohol Blackout?
Alcohol-induced blackouts occur when a person’s blood alcohol concentration increases above a certain threshold. Research from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism suggests that about half of people will experience a blackout when their BAC reaches or exceeds 0.22 percent.
Symptoms of a blackout include:
- Slurred speech
- Poor balance
- Impaired judgment
- Slurred speech
- Poor coordination
- Memory loss
People may not remember the events that occurred during the time when their BAC was elevated. They may continue to perform complex behaviors during this period of time.
When many people think of blackouts, they may associate it with heavy drinking. However, several medical conditions can cause someone to experience different types of blackouts. These include:
- Low blood sugar
- Oxygen restriction
- The side effects of certain medications
- Fainting (temporarily losing consciousness)
- Epileptic seizures
- Psychogenic seizures
While other conditions can cause temporary memory loss, most people use the term “blackout” to mean memory loss related to heavy drinking.
What Can Affect Your Blood Alcohol Level?
There is no specific amount of alcohol known to cause a blackout. Some factors can impact how alcohol affects a person’s body or how quickly BAC increases.
Some factors that can affect your BAC include:
- Your weight and body composition
- Gender
- How fast you consume alcohol
- The type of alcohol you drink
- How much you’ve eaten
- Other medications or substances you used while drinking
In general, having drinks on an empty stomach can raise your BAC more quickly than drinking after eating. A heavier person’s BAC may increase more slowly than someone who weighs less.
Gender can also impact how a person’s body reacts to alcohol. Generally, men metabolize alcohol differently than women, letting them drink more before experiencing a blackout.
Binge drinking is most often associated with alcohol blackouts. A binge involves drinking excessive alcohol in a short period. Young adults are the most likely group to engage in binge drinking, but middle-aged and older adults also engage in this risky behavior.
What are the Risks of Blackout Drinking?
There are many risks associated with blackout drinking. Frequent binge or heavy drinking can alter the physical and chemical makeup of the brain, resulting in cognitive and memory deficits. The changes that occur with heavy or binge drinking can also increase the risk of physical dependence.
During a blackout, people may engage in dangerous behaviors. They may:
- Be involved in or cause accidents
- Harm others
- Engage in aggressive behaviors
- Have unprotected sex
- Be the victim of a physical or sexual assault or other crimes
- Sustain injuries or die from exposure to heat, cold, or other dangerous conditions
- Engage in illegal activities
- Choke on vomit while unconscious or sleeping
People may also be more likely to drink more or take other substances. This puts them at risk of a deadly overdose or life-threatening complications from dangerous drug interactions.
How to Prevent an Alcohol Blackout
Anyone who consumes an excessive amount of alcohol is at risk of a blackout. There are some steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of blacking out while drinking. They include:
- Eating a meal before drinking and continuing to eat while consuming alcohol
- Alternating alcoholic beverages with a glass of water
- Sipping drinks instead of chugging
- Choosing beer, wine, or other lower-alcohol beverages instead of taking shots
It is important to pay attention to the amount of alcohol you are consuming. Before you start drinking, make a plan to drink slowly and stop at a specific point.
If you find it challenging to limit your alcohol use, it may be a sign of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Some other signs of AUD include:
- Frequently drinking more than you planned to
- Thinking about when you’ll have your next drink often
- Taking risks while drinking, such as driving while intoxicated
- Having withdrawal symptoms (sweating, tremors, nausea, anxiety, etc) if you stop drinking
- Neglecting your responsibilities, hobbies, or relationships because of your drinking
- Finding you need to drink more to feel “buzzed” or that you can drink a lot before feeling the effects of alcohol
Treatment and support can help you regain control and stay on track as you recover from alcohol abuse. Getting help as soon as you recognize a problem can lead to the best outcomes.
Find Treatment Now
Blacking out while drinking can be a sign of a problem that requires treatment. Find the treatment you need and deserve at Archstone Behavioral Health. Contact our intake team to learn about our programs or to schedule an appointment.
References:
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA): Interrupted Memories: Alcohol-Induced Blackouts
- Science Direct: Associations between blackout drinking and self-reported everyday cognition among young adults
- National Institute of Health (NIH): Alcohol-induced blackouts: A review of recent clinical research with practical implications and recommendations for future studies
- NIAAA: Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder
