Key takeaway
Alcohol poisoning can slow breathing, cause unconsciousness, and kill. Call 911. Do not leave the person alone or try to sleep it off. After emergency care, ask about alcohol use disorder treatment if heavy drinking is the pattern. Call or text (800) 653-9376 once they are safe.
Last updated: Wed Oct 07 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Someone is hard to wake after drinking, and you are bargaining with yourself about whether this is just a rough night. Alcohol poisoning is an emergency. Call 911. Treatment talk comes after they can breathe safely.
Call or text 988 if you are in a mental health crisis yourself while this is happening.
Danger signs
Slow or irregular breathing, pale or bluish skin, vomiting with little responsiveness, seizures, cold clammy skin, or inability to wake. These are not wait-and-see signs.
While you wait for help
- Call 911 and say alcohol poisoning.
- Keep them on their side if unconscious and breathing so vomit is less likely to block the airway.
- Do not give more alcohol, coffee, a cold shower, or forced walking as a cure.
- Stay until EMS arrives.
After the ER
Ask about blood alcohol level context, head injury, other drugs, and withdrawal risk if this was heavy daily drinking. Sibling pages: alcohol blackouts, delirium tremens, binge drinking help, alcohol detox.
Broker filter
A rehab salesperson who treats an ER night as a same-day flight opportunity while the person is still medically unstable is not helping. Stabilize first.
Next step
911 first. Later, FindTreatment.gov or SAMHSA 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Call or text (800) 653-9376 when you need a calm path from crisis into real alcohol care.
Call or text (800) 653-9376 after they are safe.
Additional Resources
Sources cited on this page:
- SAMHSA FindTreatment.gov
- SAMHSA National Helpline
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- CDC: Alcohol Poisoning Deaths
- NIAAA: Understanding Alcohol Overdose
Common Questions
What are signs of alcohol poisoning?
Slow or irregular breathing, bluish or pale skin, vomiting while barely awake, seizures, low body temperature, or inability to wake. Call 911. Do not wait to see if they sleep it off.
Should I make them throw up?
No. Do not force vomiting. Keep them on their side if unconscious and breathing, clear the airway of obvious vomit if you can do so safely, and wait for EMS. Never leave them alone.
Is alcohol poisoning the same as a blackout?
No. A blackout is memory loss while conscious. Alcohol poisoning is life-threatening toxicity. Both can happen at high blood alcohol levels. Poisoning needs emergency care.
What happens at the hospital?
Clinicians monitor breathing, glucose, fluids, and complications. After stabilization, ask about withdrawal risk and follow-up for alcohol use disorder when heavy use is ongoing.
What should family do after?
Confirm discharge instructions, ask about withdrawal risk if drinking stops suddenly, and consider a treatment or Al-Anon path. Call or text (800) 653-9376 for help sorting next steps.