Alcohol is one of the most commonly abused substances in the United States, with many individuals struggling with alcohol addiction. Unfortunately, alcohol overdose is a serious concern that can result in coma or even death. Fortunately, there is a medication called Narcan that is used to reverse opioid overdoses. In recent years, there has been discussion about whether Narcan can also be used to treat alcohol overdose. This page will explore the use of Narcan for alcohol and its potential benefits.

What is Narcan?

Narcan is a medication that is also known as naloxone. It is used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, which can be life-threatening. Narcan works by blocking the effects of opioids in the brain and can quickly reverse the symptoms of an overdose, including slowed or stopped breathing.

Narcan is available in several forms, including a nasal spray and an injection. The nasal spray is easy to use and can be administered by anyone, even if they have no medical training. The injection is typically administered by medical professionals.

It is important to note that Narcan is not a substitute for medical treatment and should not be relied upon as the sole form of treatment for opioid addiction.

What Does Narcan Do?

Narcan works by binding to the same receptors in the brain as opioids. Instead of producing a euphoric effect, it blocks the opioids from binding and reverses the respiratory depression caused by the overdose.

Narcan can be administered through several different routes, including injection, nasal spray, or auto-injector. The nasal spray and auto-injector forms of Narcan are easy to use and do not require any medical training, making it more accessible for family members or friends of someone who may be at risk of an overdose.

Overall, Narcan is an effective medication for reversing opioid overdoses and has saved countless lives. It is a valuable tool in preventing overdose deaths and promoting harm reduction in communities affected by the opioid epidemic.

Can Narcan Be Used for Alcohol Overdose?

While Narcan is used to treat opioid overdoses, it is not effective in treating alcohol overdoses. Alcohol overdose occurs when a person drinks more alcohol than their body can handle, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, seizures, and difficulty breathing. Unlike opioids, alcohol does not bind to the same receptors in the brain as opioids, which means that Narcan is ineffective in treating alcohol overdose.

Although Narcan may not be effective for alcohol overdose, there are other treatments available for alcohol addiction and overdose. Seeking medical attention and professional treatment is crucial for those struggling with alcohol misuse or dependence.

Narcan Side Effects

While Narcan is a relatively safe drug, there are still potential side effects that users should be aware of. The most common side effects of Narcan include the following:

1. Nausea and vomiting: Some people who receive Narcan may experience nausea and vomiting shortly after administration. This is typically a short-lived side effect that goes away on its own.
2. Agitation: Narcan can cause some people to feel agitated or restless. This is especially true if they are experiencing opioid withdrawal symptoms at the same time.
3. Headache: Some people may experience a headache after receiving Narcan. This is also a side effect that is usually mild and goes away quickly.
4. Rapid heartbeat: Narcan can cause a rapid or irregular heartbeat in some people. This side effect does not have a long duration and goes away on its own.
5. Sweating: Some people may experience sweating after receiving Narcan. This is another temporary and normal response to the medication.

It is important to note that Narcan is generally safe and well-tolerated. Most people who receive Narcan do not experience any significant side effects.

Benefits of Narcan

Despite its limited use in treating alcohol overdose, Narcan has many benefits when it comes to treating opioid overdoses. It is a safe and effective medication that can quickly reverse the effects of an overdose and save lives. Narcan can be administered by trained professionals, including emergency medical technicians and police officers. In some states, Narcan is available over the counter without a prescription, making it more accessible to individuals who may be at risk of overdose.

How to Get Narcan

If you or someone you know is at risk of opioid overdose, it is important to have Narcan on hand. Narcan can be obtained through a prescription from a healthcare provider, or in some states, it can be obtained over the counter without a prescription. Many addiction treatment centers also provide Narcan to their clients as part of their harm reduction efforts.

Contact Our Drug & Alcohol Treatment Center in Atlanta, GA

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction to drugs or alcohol, Inner Voyage Recovery in Atlanta, Georgia, is here to help. Our compassionate team of professionals offers a range of evidence-based treatments, including detox, residential treatment, and outpatient programs. Contact us today to learn more about our comprehensive approach to addiction treatment.

TV shows and movies often portray people with drinking problems as confused, disheveled, and incapable of getting through the day without embarrassing themselves and their loved ones. While some people sadly conform to this unfortunate stereotype, others are able to hide the evidence of their alcohol abuse and live what appears to be a productive and satisfying life. These individuals are often referred to as high-functioning alcoholics.

What Is a High-Functioning Alcoholic?

Before we delve into this topic, it is important to clarify that “high-functioning alcoholic” is not a clinical term. It is a casual way to describe someone who appears to have avoided the more devastating effects of alcohol addiction.

The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) includes 11 criteria for alcohol use disorder (which is how mental and behavioral health professionals refer to alcoholism). However, in order to be accurately diagnosed with this condition, a person only has to meet two of these criteria during a 12-month period.

The diagnosis of alcohol use disorder can be subdivided into three categories based on how many DSM-5 criteria a person meets:

• Mild: Two or three criteria
• Moderate: Four or five criteria
• Severe: Six or more criteria

If a person has a mild or moderate alcohol use disorder, they may be able to retain some semblance of control over their lives even as they struggle with the compulsion to drink more (and more frequently) than is healthy. 

A high-functioning alcoholic may perform well in school, make steady progress in their career, and otherwise give the outward appearance of being a happy and successful person. Unbeknownst to others, though, these individuals may be putting their livelihoods (and their lives) at risk every day due to an uncontrollable urge to drink.

Signs of High-Functioning Alcoholism

The very nature of this condition makes it difficult to detect if someone is a high-functioning alcoholic. 

• In typical cases of alcoholism, people exhibit signs such as slurred speech, impaired coordination, diminished cognition, frequent absenteeism from school or work, failure to meet personal or occupational responsibilities, and a clear inability to stop drinking.
• In the case of a high-functioning alcoholic, they either don’t have some of the more obvious symptoms of alcohol use disorder or they have become skilled at hiding these symptoms from friends, family members, colleagues, and others with whom they regularly come into contact. 

However, this doesn’t mean that it is impossible to determine if someone that you know is a high-functioning alcoholic. Here are a few key indicators to keep an eye out for:

• When they are socializing, they often have multiple drinks in a short period of time. 
• They rarely or never have an alcohol-free lunch or dinner.
• They have no hesitation about driving after they have been drinking.
• They often “pregame,” or drink at home (alone or with others) before going to a bar, club, or event where they will continue to consume alcohol.
• They claim that having a drink or two “loosens them up” or allows them to function more effectively.
• They keep alcohol in their desk at work, in the glove box in their car, or in other places where this substance is not typically found.
• They often exhibit sudden changes in mood, attitude, and energy.
• They become agitated, irritated, or even angry when they are in situations where they cannot drink.
• You suspect that they have been lying to you or others about how they spend their time and who they associate with.

Effects of High-Functioning Alcoholism

Outwardly, a high-functioning alcoholic may appear to be in control of their life. But regardless of what level of academic achievement, career advancement, or financial success they have attained, they remain at risk for negative effects such as the following:

• Damage to the heart, liver, and kidneys
• Cognitive deficits
• Malnutrition
• Conflicts in their relationships
• Physical injuries due to slips, falls, automobile accidents, or violent outbursts
• Legal problems such as being arrest for driving while intoxicated
• Elevated risk for certain cancers
• Development of anxiety, depression, or another co-occurring mental health concern
• Polysubstance abuse
• Job loss and long-term unemployment
• Financial problems
• Accidental death
• Suicidal ideation

High-functioning alcoholics may drink as a means of numbing themselves to emotional pain that is related to poor stress management capabilities, self-doubt, a history of untreated trauma, or myriad other influences. The desire to keep their alcohol abuse a secret may prevent a person from getting help to address their addictive behaviors. This, in turn, means that they are also unlikely to seek treatment for their mental or emotional concerns.

It is not difficult to see how this can lead to a downward spiral of worsening mental health and increasingly more severe alcohol abuse. In the absence of effective professional treatment, a high-functioning alcoholic remains in perpetual jeopardy for devastating physical, emotional, and socioeconomic outcomes.

Begin Treatment for Alcohol Addiction in Atlanta

If you have been struggling with alcohol addiction, or if you believe that someone that you care about is a high-functioning alcoholic, please know that help is available. At Inner Voyage Recovery Center in Atlanta, Georgia, adults receive the personalized care they need to end their alcohol abuse and begin their journey toward successful recovery. 

Features of treatment at our center include detoxification, multiple outpatient programs, a variety of effective therapies, and unwavering support. When you’re ready to start living a healthier and more hopeful life, the Inner Voyage Recovery Center team is here for you. Visit our admissions page or call us today to learn more.

The term “psychosis” often prompts thoughts of complex mental health concerns such as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. But alcohol abuse can also trigger the onset of psychotic episodes. If someone that you care about has been exhibiting alcohol-induced psychosis symptoms, they are in crisis and need immediate professional help.

What Is Alcohol-Induced Psychosis?

Alcohol-induced psychosis, which is also sometimes referred to as alcohol-related psychosis, is a mental health concern that involves a series of distressing symptoms that disrupt a person’s ability to correctly perceive their environment and interact with others.

It is important to understand that alcohol-induced psychosis symptoms are not the same as the intoxicating effects that a person typically experiences when they drink alcohol. Alcohol-induced psychosis symptoms can be much more severe and cause significantly greater harm.

According to a 2015 review from The Netherlands, the lifetime prevalence of alcohol-induced psychosis among the general public is about 0.4%. However, among people who develop alcohol use disorder (which is the clinical term for alcohol addiction), the rate of alcohol-induced psychosis rises to 4%. This represents a tenfold increase in alcohol-induced psychosis between the general public and people who have become addicted to alcohol.

What Are the Symptoms of Alcohol-Induced Psychosis?

The two main symptoms of alcohol-induced psychosis are hallucinations and delusions: 

• Auditory hallucinations: This may include hearing voices or other sounds that do not exist. A person who develops auditory hallucinations may believe that the sounds are originating inside their own head or that they are coming from an external source.
• Visual hallucinations: These can include seeing people, shapes, or patterns that are not actually there. Visual hallucinations are often associated with schizophrenia and psychedelic drugs, but they can also be symptomatic of alcohol-induced psychosis.
• Delusions: This is a general category that can include a variety of firm, rigid beliefs that are easily disproven or that have no basis in reality. Examples of delusional thinking include believing that a person is being spied on, persecuted, or controlled by a government agency. A person who has delusions might also believe that they are in a romantic relationship with a famous person (who they have never actually met) or that they have certain special abilities or magical powers.

The following behaviors or characteristics may indicate that a person is experiencing symptoms of alcohol-induced psychosis:

• Agitation and irritability
• Claiming that someone is out to get them
• Being unable to communicate clearly or engage in conversations
• Intense fear or paranoia in the absence of any credible threat
• Dramatic mood swings, including sudden outbursts of anger or violence
• Confusion and disorientation
• Poor self-care and lack of attention to personal hygiene

Who Is at Risk for Alcohol-Induced Psychosis?

Anyone who drinks alcohol is potentially at risk for alcohol-induced psychosis. The more a person drinks, the greater their risk becomes for developing these symptoms. However, the likelihood of developing alcohol-induced psychosis is higher among certain individuals.

According to the Dutch study that we referenced in an earlier section, alcohol-induced psychosis symptoms are most common among working-age men. That study also noted that people who meet criteria such as the following may also have an elevated risk for developing this mental health concern:

• Developed alcohol use disorder at a younger age
• Have low socioeconomic status
• Are unemployed or living on a pension
• Live alone

Studies also suggest that having a father who struggled with addiction and/or mental health concerns can also increase a person’s risk for experiencing symptoms of alcohol-induced psychosis.

How Is Alcohol-Induced Psychosis Treated in Atlanta, GA?

Treatment for alcohol-induced psychosis must address two important concerns: the alcohol-induced psychosis symptoms that the individual has been experiencing and the compulsion to abuse alcohol that led to the onset of these symptoms.

In most cases, alcohol-induced psychosis symptoms will subside once a person stops drinking. To accomplish this, a person may need services such as the following:

• Detoxification: Also known as detox, this is a short-term, professionally managed program that allows a person to complete alcohol withdrawal safely and with as little discomfort as possible. Among people who have been drinking heavily for an extended period of time, alcohol withdrawal can be extremely dangerous and potentially deadly. Detox minimizes the health risks of withdrawal, so people can rid their bodies of this dangerous drug.
• Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs): At the PHP level, people can receive full days of therapy and related support services to help them establish a strong foothold in early recovery. During a person’s time in a PHP, they can learn about the disease of addiction, identify the triggers that may threaten their continued recovery, and develop essential relapse-prevention skills.
• Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs): Many people step down to an IOP after completing alcohol addiction treatment at the PHP level. IOPs typically offer a few hours of treatment a few days each week. This allows participants to have a structured connection to quality clinical care while also having the opportunity to work, take classes, and otherwise engage in a healthy and productive lifestyle.
• Outpatient treatment: This is the most flexible level of outpatient care for alcohol addiction. Participants can schedule sessions as needed. Outpatient treatment can be a vital source of ongoing support as a person works to progress in their recovery.

Begin Treatment for Alcohol Addiction Near Atlanta

You don’t have to wait until you hit “rock bottom” to get help for an addiction to alcohol. The day you enter treatment, you take a significant step toward a healthier and more hopeful future. Inner Voyage Recovery Center offers several levels of personalized outpatient care to help adults end their alcohol use and achieve successful, long-term recovery. To learn more about our programs and services, or to schedule a free assessment, give us a call or visit our admissions page.