Intoxication

Overview

Intoxication means your body and brain are affected by a substance more than is safe. The substance is most often alcohol, but it can also be recreational drugs, medicines (including ones your doctor prescribed), or things like solvents and inhalants. Intoxication changes how you think, feel, move and react. At low levels it may feel relaxing or fun. At higher levels it can cause confusion, vomiting, poor balance, and even slow breathing. How strong the effects are depends on the substance, how much was taken, how fast, your body size, your health, and whether other substances were mixed in.

Yes. Alcohol intoxication is very common, and emergency departments in many countries see people every day for intoxication or the injuries it causes. Intoxication from medicines or drugs is less common but can be more serious.

Anyone can become intoxicated. It is most often seen in young adults and teenagers who drink heavily or experiment with substances. Older adults are also at risk, because their bodies handle alcohol and medicines differently and they often take several medicines. People with liver or kidney problems, low body weight, or who drink on an empty stomach get intoxicated faster. Children can become intoxicated from very small amounts, often by accident.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

• Slurred speech or trouble finding words
• Poor balance, unsteady walking, bumping into things
• Slow reactions and poor judgement (for example, thinking it is fine to drive)
• Mood changes — being very happy, tearful, irritable or aggressive
• Drowsiness, or the opposite — being unusually excited or restless
• Nausea and vomiting
• Flushing, sweating, headache or dizziness
• Blurred vision or feeling that the room is spinning
• Blackouts — not remembering what happened

Symptoms in children

• Sleepiness or being hard to wake
• Vomiting, or refusing to eat or drink
• Unsteady walking or clumsiness in a child who normally walks well
• Flushed skin, sweating, or unusual smell on the breath
• Low blood sugar, which can cause shakiness and confusion
• Trouble breathing, especially after swallowing a medicine or an adult drink

Symptoms in older adults

• Confusion or sudden memory problems, which can be mistaken for dementia
• Falls and injuries after only a small amount of alcohol
• Stronger effects from the same amount of alcohol or medicine than when they were younger
• Dangerous interactions between alcohol and prescribed medicines
• Dehydration and low blood sugar
• Worsening of heart, liver or kidney conditions

Causes

Main causes

• Drinking a lot of alcohol in a short time, or drinking on an empty stomach
• Recreational drugs, including stimulants, sedatives and club drugs
• Prescribed medicines with sedative effects, such as strong painkillers or sleeping tablets
• Mixing substances — for example alcohol with medicines, or two drugs together
• Taking more than the recommended amount of a medicine, by accident or on purpose
• Solvents, glues, gases and other inhalants
• Some herbal products and supplements that affect the brain or liver

Risk factors

• Binge drinking — drinking a lot quickly
• Low body weight, or being young or female, which raises the effect of the same amount of alcohol
• Drinking on an empty stomach or when dehydrated
• Liver or kidney disease, which slows how fast the body clears substances
• Mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety
• A history of substance use or addiction, in you or in your family
• Taking several medicines at once, especially in older age
• Pregnancy
• Peer pressure, celebrations, stress, or drinking to cope with difficult feelings
• Poor labelling, or storing alcohol and medicines where children can reach them

When to see a doctor

See a doctor urgently if:

• Vomiting that will not stop, or you cannot keep any fluids down
• Shaking, sweating, a racing heart or strong anxiety after cutting down on alcohol
• Any injury that happened while intoxicated
• You took a substance and feel very unwell, even if you are not sure it was serious
• You are pregnant and have used alcohol or drugs
• You have thoughts of harming yourself

Book a routine appointment if:

• You often drink more than you planned, or find it hard to stop
• Drinking or drug use is affecting your sleep, mood, work or relationships
• You need more of a substance to get the same effect, or you feel shaky without it
• You take medicines that might interact with alcohol or drugs
• You want advice on cutting down safely

Diagnosis

A doctor or nurse usually makes the diagnosis by talking to you or the people with you, checking your breathing, pulse, temperature and blood pressure, and watching how alert you are. They may ask what was taken, how much, and when. In more serious cases they will check your blood sugar and oxygen levels and may do blood or urine tests. If there was a fall or head injury, they may check for injuries. If you cannot give information, they will treat you first and ask questions later.

Tests that may be done

• Physical examination, including breathing, heart rate and level of alertness
• Blood sugar check, especially in children and older adults
• Blood or urine tests to look for alcohol, drugs or other causes of confusion
• Blood tests to check liver, kidney and salt levels
• Heart tracing (ECG) if the substance affects the heart rhythm
• A scan of the head if there was a head injury or the cause is unclear

What to expect at your appointment

In mild cases, you may simply be watched in a safe, quiet place until the effects wear off. In more serious cases, you may be in an emergency department with a drip for fluids, oxygen if needed, and regular checks. Staff will keep you safe, keep you warm, and treat any injuries. Most people improve over hours to a day.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the substance, how much was taken, and how unwell you are. Most mild intoxication needs time, rest, fluids and a safe place, plus someone to keep an eye on you. Serious intoxication is treated in hospital with close monitoring, support for breathing and circulation, and treatment of any injuries or other problems. The body clears most substances on its own, so the main job of treatment is to keep you safe while that happens.

Self-care at home

• Stop drinking or taking the substance as soon as you notice strong effects
• Stay with someone you trust, or ask someone to stay with you
• Sit upright rather than lying flat, and never leave someone who is very drowsy alone
• If someone must lie down, place them on their side in the recovery position so they cannot choke on vomit
• Sip water if you feel sick, and avoid strong coffee or more alcohol
• Eat something light once you feel able, to help your blood sugar
• Do not drive, cycle, operate machines or make important decisions until fully recovered — usually the next day
• Keep warm and rest; plan a safe way home

Medical treatments

In hospital, staff focus on safety and support. This can include oxygen, a drip for fluids and sugars, close monitoring of breathing and heart rate, and keeping the person warm. They treat injuries and any other conditions. For certain overdoses, doctors may give an antidote medicine that reverses the effects of the substance. They may also give medicine to ease withdrawal, or to settle severe agitation. After you are stable, staff may offer a brief talk about your drinking or drug use, and put you in touch with support services if you want them.

When is surgery considered?

Surgery is not usually part of treatment for intoxication. It is only needed if there is a serious injury, such as a broken bone or internal bleeding, after a fall or accident.

Living with this condition

Most people recover fully within a day after a single episode. Plan the next day gently — drink plenty of water, eat regular meals, and avoid alcohol for at least 24 to 48 hours. If intoxication has become a pattern, day-to-day life can start to revolve around drinking or drugs, which is when support helps most. Small, steady changes — like having alcohol-free days, tracking what you drink, and telling a friend about your plan — often make a real difference.

Lifestyle tips

• Keep a simple diary of how much you drink or use, and when
• Set a limit before you go out, and alternate alcoholic drinks with water
• Eat before and while drinking
• Avoid mixing alcohol with medicines, and ask your pharmacist about interactions
• Plan safe transport home before you go out
• Build in regular alcohol-free days and activities that do not centre on drinking
• Store alcohol and medicines safely away from children
• Get enough sleep — tiredness makes the effects of substances stronger

Diet and exercise

Regular meals help keep your blood sugar steady, which matters during and after intoxication. Drinking water throughout the day, and extra water when drinking alcohol, helps prevent dehydration. Gentle activity such as walking is fine once you feel well again. Regular exercise and good sleep also support mood and can reduce the urge to drink or use substances to cope.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Intoxication and mental health are closely linked. Some people drink or use drugs to cope with stress, low mood, anxiety or trauma, and over time this can make those feelings worse. Others feel ashamed or anxious after an episode. These feelings are common and treatable. If you are struggling with your mental health, or having thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out for help right away — contact your local emergency number, a local crisis line, or a healthcare professional. You deserve support, and you do not have to manage alone.

Prevention

Often, yes. Most episodes of intoxication can be avoided by drinking more slowly, eating first, setting a limit, and never mixing substances. If you take medicine that causes drowsiness, check with your pharmacist before drinking any alcohol. Keep alcohol and medicines locked away or out of reach of children. Never leave a drink unattended, and never take a substance you have not been given by a trusted source.

Screening programmes

Doctors and nurses often ask simple questions about drinking and drug use during routine appointments. These short questions can spot a problem early, before it causes harm. If you are concerned, you can ask for a check-up or a talk about your drinking at any time — you do not need to wait to be asked.

Complications

If left untreated

• Falls, road traffic accidents, burns and other injuries
• Choking on vomit, or breathing problems
• Alcohol poisoning, which can be life-threatening
• Head injuries that are missed because the person seems 'just drunk'
• Low blood sugar, dehydration and low body temperature
• Withdrawal seizures and severe withdrawal illness
• Long-term liver damage, heart problems and nerve damage
• Developing dependence on alcohol or drugs
• Worsening mental health, relationship problems, and difficulties at work or study

Long-term outlook

For a single episode, the outlook is very good — most people recover fully within a day. If drinking or drug use has become a pattern, the outlook is still hopeful. Many people cut down or stop with the right support, and services are there to help without judgement. Getting help early makes a real difference, and it is never too late to make a change.

Find support

External links open third-party websites. Ruqelo Health is not responsible for external content. Listing an organisation does not imply endorsement.