

Understanding BlackoutsĪ blackout doesn’t just stop a person from remembering an event. One study found that 11.4 percent of women and 20.9 percent of men had three or more blackouts in the space of a year.Ĭomprehensive alcohol addiction treatment can provide men and women who experience these or other forms of alcohol-related harm with help and hope, so they’re empowered to begin living an alcohol-free life. Some people may only have one blackout in their lives, while others may have these alcohol-induced memory lapses more frequently. The exact amount of alcohol needed to cause a blackout can vary per person, however, scientists have determined that blackouts frequently begin at a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.20 percent, but can begin at as low as 0.14 percent. Because of this, blackouts are also referred to as alcohol-induced amnesia. When a person has a blackout they will not be able to remember events that happened while they were drinking, a condition which is similar to amnesia.


After drinking, a person may feel as if they’ve lost chunks of time and wake up not remembering events from the previous night.
#Alcohol induced amnesia full#
The risk of experiencing a blackout can be dependent on a person’s tolerance, their body makeup, and other factors.Īn alcohol-induced blackout can wipe out a person’s memory, either in full or in part. It’s estimated that 50 percent of people who drink have encountered a blackout. Drinking large amounts of alcohol quickly, especially on an empty stomach, are risk factors for an alcohol-induced blackout.
