Blacking out from alcohol is a dangerous experience that can expose a person to both immediate and lasting harm.
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What Is an Alcohol Blackout?
Blacking out from alcohol is also referred to as an alcohol-induced blackout or alcohol-induced amnesia. Regardless of which words are used, they refer to periods of memory loss as the result of alcohol abuse.ย
Some people use blacking out as a synonym for passing out, or losing consciousness due to heavy drinking. Itโs important to note that this is not the correct usage of these terms.ย
When someone blacks out from drinking, they will remain conscious, but will later find it difficulty or impossible to remember what they did or what occurred in their presence.ย
Though a person may exhibit several symptoms of intoxication โ such as slurred speech or impaired coordination โ there are no observable warning signs that their memory is not functioning properlyย
Types of Blackouts
There are two general types of blacking out, which are differentiated by the degree of memory loss that a person experiences:
- En bloc: This involves a complete lack of memories from a distinct, continuous period of time. During an en bloc blackout, which can cover several hours, a personโs brain is incapable of forming and storing memories. This means that the individual will have no way of recalling what transpired.
- Fragmentary: Also referred to as a partial blackout, this is the most common type of blacking out from alcohol. It involves scattered, sometimes hazy memories that may be separated by periods of complete memory loss. Some sources use the terms brownout or greyout when describing a fragmentary blackout.
Both types of blackouts cause anterograde amnesia, meaning they affect the formation of new memories. They are unlikely to destroy memories that a person has already made and stored, which is known as retrograde amnesia.
Why People Black Out
Blackouts result from consuming a large amount of alcohol, especially if a person does so in a short amount of time. Typically, a person needs to reach a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.16%, which is twice the legal limit for driving a car in the U.S., to be at risk of blacking out. However, that is not an absolute threshold.ย
In addition to how much and how quickly a person drinks, other factors that can influence their risk of blacking out from alcohol include:
- Their age, gender, weight, and metabolism
- Certain genetic variations
- Their history of alcohol use
- If they have eaten recently
- If they are also using other mind-altering substances
- If they have certain medical, neurological, or mental health conditions
Research indicates that blackouts result from alcoholโs impact on the hippocampus, which is a small but complex area of the brain that is located within the temporal lobe. The hippocampus plays a key role in registering, organizing, and retrieving information โ which means that it is where short-term memories are formed and converted into long-term memories.
When the amount of alcohol a person drinks outpaces their bodyโs ability to metabolize and eliminate it, one of the effects may be disrupted functioning in the hippocampus. Relatively minor levels of disruption may lead to fragmentary blackouts, while more extensive levels can result in en bloc memory loss.
Dangers of Blacking Out From Alcohol
Waking up with little to no memory of what you did the night before can be a disconcerting experience. But the potential harm from an alcohol-induced blackout isnโt limited to worrying that you might have embarrassed yourself.ย
If you consumed enough alcohol to impair your memory, that means you also consumed enough to put yourself at risk of serious problems such as:
- Injuring yourself due to impaired coordination and/or judgement
- Harming others due to driving while intoxicated or other reckless behaviors
- Being assaulted or otherwise victimized due to diminished cognition and delayed response time
- Alcohol poisoning, which can damage your liver, heart, and brain
The best ways to avoid these and many other alcohol-related problems are to drink slowly and moderately, or not to drink at all.ย
If youโre unable to take either of these steps โ if you simply canโt stop drinking once you start, or if you have a history of unsuccessful attempts to end your alcohol use for good โ it may be time to talk to a professional.
Is Blacking Out From Alcohol a Sign of Addiction?
Diagnoses of alcohol use disorder (alcoholism) and other types of addiction are based on the criteria established in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).ย
The DSM-5 doesnโt include blacking out as one of the criteria for alcoholism, but the list does include several blackout-related behaviors, such as:
- Using alcohol in larger amounts or for a longer period of time than intended
- Repeatedly using alcohol in situations where it is physically hazardous
- Continuing to use alcohol even after developing a persistent physical or psychological problem due to prior alcohol use
- Developing tolerance, which means that you need to drink significantly more than you used to in order to become intoxicated
If you think you have a problem with alcohol, an ideal first step is to schedule an assessment with your doctor or a trusted addiction treatment provider in your area. Completing an assessment and receiving an accurate diagnosis can be important steps toward getting the help you need.
Find Treatment for Alcohol Addiction in Georgia
Serenity Grove is a premier source of personalized care for adults who have become addicted to alcohol and other drugs. We also serve patients whose struggles with addiction are accompanied by depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and other co-occurring mental health concerns.
Your options at our addiction treatment center in Athens, GA, include medical detox, residential rehab, and multiple outpatient programs. Our team will work closely with you to determine which programs, therapies, and support services best align with your unique needs. Working together, we can help you make sustained progress toward a much healthier life in recovery.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free consultation, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
