Alcohol Blackouts: Signs, Causes, And Dangers Of Blacking Out
Drinking alcohol is one of the more accepted societal norms, but a few drinks can quickly turn dangerous if the binge drinking episode gets out of control. When an excessive amount of alcohol is consumed within a short time frame, it can quickly lead to an alcohol blackout, which is a dangerous state of alcohol-induced memory loss where the person remains conscious and active but later has no recollection of their actions. This is one of the more immediate health risks people who drink serious amounts of alcohol face, as the unintended consequences of their actions can cause serious health risks.
When a person consumes large amounts of alcohol in a short period, blood alcohol concentration (BAC) rises significantly, overwhelming the brain’s ability to form and store new memories, which leads to the blackout. During a blackout while on alcohol, a person may continue to engage in conversations, drive a vehicle, or make critical choices, but their brain cannot create lasting memories of these experiences. This state of impaired cognitive function combined with continued alcohol consumption increases the likelihood of risky behaviors, making blackouts not just a memory issue but a significant personal safety concern that can have lasting repercussions.
How Do You Know If You’re Blackout Drunk?
One of the scariest aspects of being blackout drunk is that you won’t know it as it happens. Your friends and family will typically tell you about your actions, which you have little memory of. However, this constant occurrence of not remembering large aspects of a night while drinking will quickly lead people to realize they are a blackout drunk.
Physical signs of an impending or ongoing blackout include severe disorientation, slurred speech, unsteady walking, and an inability to focus or comprehend basic information. People who are blackout drunk suffer from alcohol-induced memory loss, causing them to repeat questions, struggle to maintain conversations, and may exhibit risky behavior without awareness of their actions, putting themselves and others at potential risk of harm.
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How Long Do People Blackout For?
How long someone suffers an alcohol blackout will depend on individual factors like blood-alcohol level tolerance, metabolism, and drinking speed. Typically, blackouts can last from a few hours to an entire evening, with memory loss occurring during extreme intoxication while the person may still appear conscious and active.
There are two primary types of blackouts: fragmentary (or partial) blackouts, where some memories are retained, and en bloc blackouts, where entire periods are completely erased from memory. En bloc blackouts tend to be more severe, potentially spanning several hours of drinking, during which a person might engage in activities without forming any memories of those experiences.
What Does Blacking Out Feel Like?
Blacking out while drinking alcohol feels like a disorienting experience where the person is conscious, but their memory formation completely breaks down. They might feel like they are functioning normally by talking, walking, and making decisions, but their brain is unable to store any permanent record of these actions, which creates a weird sensation of being awake without remembering what happened. During a blackout, people often report feeling disconnected from their own behavior and without the ability to fully control or recall their actions.
For healthy adults, moderate drinking is typically defined as one drink daily for women and two drinks daily for men, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. However, no completely risk-free level of alcohol consumption exists. If someone frequently experiences a blackout period while drinking or is unable to control their behavior while drinking, seeking immediate help is necessary.
How Serious Are Blackouts?
Blackout periods while drinking alcohol are a critical medical risk with potentially severe long-term consequences. During these blackout periods, individuals experience complete memory loss while remaining physically active, which can lead to dangerous situations. This impaired decision-making can lead to increased vulnerability to sexual assault, physical injury, and engagement in risky behaviors like drunk driving without any memory of those actions.
Along with risky behavior and memory loss, the neurological impact of repeated blackout periods can cause significant damage to brain function. Chronic blackout drinking can result in permanent cognitive impairments, increased risk of alcohol use disorder, potential brain cell destruction, and a decrease in the ability to form and retain memories.
Find Help for Alcohol Blackout and Addiction at Resurgence Behavioral Health
While an alcohol blackout is a serious issue, it can be prevented. Excessive alcohol use is a leading preventable cause of death in the U.S., according to the CDC. For those needing alcohol rehab to overcome alcoholism, Resurgence Behavioral Health provides a comprehensive approach to dealing with alcohol addiction. Our personalized and evidence-based treatment methods use professional therapy methods to help patients overcome alcohol addiction. To learn more about our detox, inpatient, and outpatient treatment services for addiction, please call Resurgence Behavioral Health at 855-458-0050 today.
External Sources
- CDC — Facts About U.S. Deaths from Excessive Alcohol Use
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism — Alcohol Use in the United States: Age Groups and Demographic Characteristics
- National Insitute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism — Alcohol’s Effects on Health
