You just won’t remember what you did the next day because your memories have not formed or been transferred to long-term memory storage. Based on the Marino and Fromme(2015) findings, one could speculate that a genetic vulnerabilityto alcohol-induced blackouts is expressed only under certain environmentalconditions, representing a possible gene by environment interaction. Forexample, a mother with problematic drinking habits might contribute to anenvironment that is characterized by lower parental monitoring and increasedalcohol availability. These environmental factors, in turn, could createstress and contribute to early initiation of alcohol use and maladaptivedrinking behaviors in her offspring, especially sons, who are geneticallypredisposed to alcohol misuse and alcohol-induced blackouts. Given thepotential impact of these findings on prevention and intervention programs,additional research examining genetic and environmental factors contributingto alcohol-induced blackouts is needed.
Wetherill and colleagues (2012)conducted a follow-up study that used a within subject alcohol challengefollowed by two functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) sessions under noalcohol and alcohol (target BrAC of .08 g/dl) conditions. Boekeloo and colleauges (2011)examined a different type of drinking motive -“drinking to getdrunk,” which the authors defined as “pre-meditated,controlled, and intentional consumption of alcohol to reach a state ofinebriation” (p. 89). They explored the prevalence and correlates ofthis type of drinking behavior in 307 incoming freshman who reportedconsuming alcohol over the past 30 days. Nearly 77% of the incomingfreshmen reported drinking alcohol in a pre-meditated, intentional mannerwith the goal of becoming intoxicated.
Study Characteristics
The long-term effects of a blackout are unknown, but they may cause the brain to be more susceptible to memory losses in the future. That is why people experience a range of memory loss symptoms when they binge-drink. Alcohol can cause minor memory loss, such as being unable to remember details of a conversation after a few drinks, or major memory loss, such as forgetting hours of time after taking shots. Medical treatments for alcohol-induced blackouts may involve medications that address withdrawal symptoms or cravings, as well as therapy to manage any concurrent mental health disorders. Naltrexone and acamprosate are examples of medications used to reduce the desire to drink.
How To Avoid Alcohol Blackouts
One reason for this is that the frontal lobe of the brain is the last to develop, at around 25. Drinking alcohol until you’re “blackout drunk,” leading to a temporary loss of memory, is common celebrity fetal alcohol syndrome – especially among young people. However, alcohol blackouts can be dangerous and can lead to other problems, including engaging in risky activities while intoxicated and not remembering.
Studies also suggest that prenatal exposure to alcohol increases a person’s chance of experiencing blackouts in the future, and certain genes may increase a person’s likelihood to black out. In a study of 100 alcoholics published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, 36 participants said they had never experienced a blackout despite a history of heavy alcohol use. But we all know that as blood alcohol content goes up, our judgment and coordination go down.
- Using longitudinal methods, Schuckit andcolleagues (2015) and Wilhite andFromme (2015) focused specifically on prospective analyses ofalcohol-induced blackouts.
- Most men were able to remember the images two minutes after seeing them, but half of the men could not remember them 30 minutes or 24 hours later.
- You can recover from an alcohol blackout by drinking water and beverages containing electrolytes, such as sports drinks.
Prevalence and Predictors of Alcohol-Induced Blackouts
That’s because the brain’s ability to create long-term memories isn’t affected as much by blood alcohol content as it is by rapid rises in that level. Binge drinking — consuming numerous drinks in a short period— is more likely to cause alcohol blackouts, amnesia and memory loss than slow, heavy drinking, according to numerous studies. First,alcohol-induced blackouts are amnestic periods, and as such, researchers arerelying on self-report of alcohol consumption for a period of time that theindividual cannot recall. As such, future researchshould use alternative methodologies to better understand the phenomenology ofalcohol-induced blackouts. For example, information might be obtained from aresearch observer, posing as a confederate, who is not drinking but is presentat the drinking event. Also, because short-term memory remains intact, use ofecological momentary assessment with smart phones might also be useful forgathering information about the drinker’s experiences while he or she isin a blackout state.
If you’re unable to control how much you drink, avoid drinking altogether. If you have experienced a blackout before, you’re likely at a higher risk for blacking out in the future and should exercise caution. People who are experiencing being blackout drunk often feel similar symptoms to being drunk. They feel carefree, are overly friendly or overly aggressive, have slurred speech and can’t walk straight. Signs that they may be blacking out or are blackout drunk include losing their train of thought, not understanding normal speech and getting confused about recent events. Popular media and some celebrities with drug problems glamorize blacking out, and not being able to remember what happened the night before is the topic of many fun-filled tales.