The question of whether to let an intoxicated person sleep requires careful assessment of their condition. Allowing someone to “sleep it off” without monitoring carries significant risk, especially if they have consumed a high amount of alcohol. Alcohol acts as a depressant, affecting involuntary bodily functions that can quickly lead to a life-threatening emergency. The decision to permit sleep depends entirely on the person’s level of intoxication and whether they show signs of distress.
The Danger of Central Nervous System Depression
Alcohol acts as a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, which slows down brain function, heart rate, and breathing. As consumption increases, alcohol moves from affecting judgment and coordination to impairing the body’s basic reflexes. The gag reflex, which normally prevents choking, can become depressed or absent, creating a high risk of aspiration if the person vomits while unconscious.
A person’s condition can worsen even after they stop drinking because alcohol remaining in the stomach and intestines continues to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Their Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) can continue to rise for up to two hours as the body processes the alcohol. Someone who appears stable when falling asleep may later enter a state of alcohol poisoning as their BAC peaks. This progressive depression of the CNS can lead to respiratory failure, coma, and permanent brain damage.
Recognizing Signs of Alcohol Poisoning
If the individual exhibits definitive signs of alcohol poisoning, the answer is “No,” and emergency medical services must be called immediately. These signs indicate that the central nervous system is dangerously depressed, threatening vital involuntary functions.
A person may be experiencing alcohol poisoning if they cannot be roused or sustained in consciousness, or if they are confused and in a stupor. Breathing irregularities are a sign of danger, specifically if the person is taking fewer than eight breaths per minute. Irregular breathing, characterized by pauses of 10 seconds or more between breaths, also signals a life-threatening emergency.
Vomiting while unconscious or experiencing a seizure are warning signs that require immediate medical intervention. The body’s temperature regulation is also severely impaired, which can lead to hypothermia. Signs of this include cold, clammy, or pale skin, sometimes with a bluish tint, especially around the lips and fingernails. If there is any doubt about the severity of the person’s condition, emergency services should be contacted without delay.
Essential Safety and Monitoring Protocols
If the person is highly intoxicated but responsive and does not show the severe warning signs of alcohol poisoning, they should not be left alone and must be actively monitored. The primary action is to place them in the recovery position to safeguard their airway. This position prevents the tongue from blocking the throat and allows vomit to drain from the mouth, minimizing the risk of aspiration.
To place them safely, kneel beside the person and ensure both legs are straight. Take the arm closest to you and place it at a right angle to their body. Bring the other arm across their chest and hold the back of that hand against the cheek closest to you. Bend the knee farthest from you and gently roll the person onto their side, using the bent knee and the arm against the cheek for stability.
The person must be checked every 10 to 15 minutes, focusing on their breathing, skin color, and responsiveness. To check responsiveness, try to rouse them by calling their name or gently shaking their shoulder; they should be able to wake up and respond. If at any point the person becomes unresponsive, begins to vomit, or exhibits signs of alcohol poisoning, immediately call emergency services. While monitoring, ensure they are kept warm with a blanket to counter the effects of alcohol on body temperature regulation.