Alcohol Blackouts

Have you ever woken up from a night drinking without knowing where you are and how you got there? Or you just wake up on your bed as usual, but as you talk to people who saw you the night before, you start hearing about stories you do not recall. Sometimes the stories are funny, and you don’t think much of it because everyone was having a good time. Perhaps you’ve been lucky thus far for not getting into too much trouble during this alcohol-induced amnesia. But this gap in memory – caused by high alcohol intake – severely impacts your health and well-being.

At Serenity Lane, we know how easy it can be to fall into a pattern of blackout drinking. We’re the oldest not-for-profit recovery program in the state of Oregon because we’re passionate about helping people just like yourself. Today, let's talk about alcohol blackouts and what they do to your body and mental health.

What Are the Different Types of Alcohol Blackouts?

There are two types of alcohol blackouts. You may experience an “en bloc,” which is a complete blackout when you lose total memory of events and may never get them back. When you have flashes of memories, it’s called a fragmentary or partial blackout. Sometimes, it is also called a brownout or greyout. Certain memories formed during the drinking, but not all are recovered.

The Causes and Dangers of Blacking Out From Alcohol

People usually downplay the dangers of a blackout. Losing consciousness, known as passing out, is not subtle and usually alarms a group far more than someone blacking out. Although passing out sounds more dangerous, blacking out puts you in a far more significant amount of risky situations because you’re still conscious. You can still actively engage with people and your environment, but your brain is not creating memories. During a blackout, most of your cognitive behaviors are impaired, putting you at risk for poor decision-making. Worse yet, you are at everyone’s mercy. During a blackout, you are still awake and conscious but simply can’t advocate for yourself.

There are different ways that lead to blacking out from alcohol:

• Drinking fast: If you pace yourself, you’re less likely to cause a blackout. If you give your body enough time to metabolize the alcohol you’ve ingested before getting another drink, your blood alcohol content (BAC) will remain reasonable. Drinking rapidly raises your BAC and is often a cause of a blackout.
• Empty stomach before drinking: Drinking while enjoying food or eating beforehand helps avoid blacking out. With an empty stomach, alcohol is directly absorbed into the stomach lining. This causes BAC to rise quickly and lead to a blackout.
• Trying to keep up or catching up: Sometimes, you get off work or class late, and everyone is already buzzed when you get to the bar. You may be tempted to ask the bartender for some shots to catch up. Raising your BAC very fast can put you on the path of an alcohol blackout. Genetic and environmental factors control the metabolization of alcohol, so your friend may be able to have 2-3 drinks per hour, but you might not.
• Pregaming and party games: The style of drinking increases the likelihood of blackouts, too. Hanging out and drinking with friends before an event with the intent to drink more when arriving can be dangerous. Drinking games also make you drink faster and more deliberately due to social pressure.

Regardless of the pressure you are under when you decide to binge drink, continuous alcohol intake may cause blackouts or lead to alcohol poisoning.

Is Blackout Drinking a Sign of Alcohol Use Disorder

While many use alcohol at social gatherings, those who are drinking alcohol to manage depression or anxiety may be looking at an alcohol use disorder. Signs of alcohol use disorder include regular use to manage emotions, building tolerance, cravings, neglecting essential responsibilities, and continued use even with negative consequences.

Although having a blackout does not mean you have alcohol use disorder, it’s a red flag, and further exploration of your relationship with alcohol is necessary.

What to Do When Someone Is Blacking Out From Alcohol

When you see someone who appears to be blacking out from alcohol, take the person away from any alcoholic drink or other substances. Blackouts happen because of high BAC levels. Unfortunately, you can do nothing to lower the levels faster. The idea that drinking coffee, taking cold showers, or making yourself vomit will lower your BAC is a myth.

Each person will metabolize the alcohol differently, which dictates how long alcohol stays in your system. You may offer water or drinks with electrolytes to aid hydration and flush toxins out of their bodies. Ultimately, removing the person from the social situation and taking them to somewhere safe is best. If you can’t stay with the person or there’s no one to supervise them, bringing them to a hospital is the best way to ensure they are safe and do not have alcohol poisoning. If you drop someone off at home alone, they can leave again and jeopardize their lives.

Seeking Alcoholism Rehab and Addiction Treatment

If you find too many tales of yourself drunk that you can’t remember, it may be time to seek help. If someone you love is in this situation, speak to them. You don’t have to do this alone. Recovery from alcoholism is a journey that you take with people who root for you to find long-term happiness.

At Serenity Lane, we offer inpatient treatments in our Coburg residential treatment center, where you’ll receive around-the-clock medical and mental support. You may also opt for outpatient treatments and choose between level I, where you would be seen once a week for one and a half hours, or meet thrice weekly for three hours as part of our level II outpatient program.

Serenity Lane has eight locations throughout Oregon with compassionate professionals ready to help. Don’t wait for another blackout to happen. Call us at (800) 543-9905 or send us a confidential inquiry and get help today. We accept most insurances and offer confidential screening and admissions seven days a week.

How do you tell if you were blackout drunk?

If you have gaps in memory of your whereabouts after drinking or have no memory whatsoever, you experienced a blackout.

How much alcohol does it take to blackout?

It depends, but usually your blood alcohol level reaches 0.16 percent. Variables such as weight, height, food consumption, and how fast you are finishing your drinks play a role in the amount of alcohol it will take to cause a blackout.

Does blacking out damage your brain?

Blackouts from alcohol misuse can prevent your hippocampus from consolidating memories, and it can eventually cause brain damage.