Have you ever found yourself saying, "Just one drink?" While it might seem harmless, the boundary between casual drinking and alcohol addiction can blur unexpectedly. Former alcoholic Corey Warren recently shared crucial warning signs that indicate your drinking has moved beyond casual consumption.
The Wake-Up Call You Shouldn't Ignore
Corey Warren has dedicated his life to educating people about alcohol's dangers. He explains how casual drinking carries similar risks to full-blown alcoholism. In a recent Instagram video, Warren highlighted one particular sign that suggests your drinking is no longer casual - experiencing blackouts.
"If you've ever blacked out, you probably think it's because you drank too much. But this is what you don't understand," Warren stated in his video. He recalled his own experience of drinking only on weekends while considering it casual, yet blackouts still occurred regularly.
"I used to think that blacking out was just part of drinking, part of having fun, part of the story I'd tell the next day," Warren explained. "What I didn't realize is blacking out isn't what happens when I drink too much one time. Blacking out is what happens when my tolerance is so high that I drink past my body's limit, and I don't even realize it. And that's not normal. That's not fun. That's my brain shutting down."
Warren emphasized that even a single blackout indicates serious problems. "So if you've ever blacked out even one time, that means your relationship with alcohol is way past casual. Blacking out is not fun. It's a warning. You want to better your life? Start by getting this alcohol out of it," he added.
The Science Behind Alcohol-Induced Blackouts
Warren's explanation aligns with scientific understanding. Repeated blackouts or drunken episodes strongly indicate alcohol-use disorder. Blackouts feature lost time periods where individuals may function relatively normally but later recall nothing from their intoxicated state.
These episodes occur when alcohol levels become extremely high in the body, impairing the ability to form new memories. A 2006 study published in Journal of Forensic Science found that blackout odds reach approximately 50% when blood alcohol content hits 0.22 percent. At this level, people experience difficulty walking, talking, or standing alongside impaired judgment and vision.
A 2016 Wiley-published study revealed that alcohol-induced blackouts aren't solely caused by consumption quantity - individual differences significantly contribute. Blackouts extend beyond immediate heavy drinking effects, potentially contributing to psychiatric symptoms and brain changes.
Recognizing Alcohol Overdose Warning Signs
What you consider casual drinking might overwhelm your body. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol overdose signs include:
- Mental confusion and stupor
- Difficulty remaining conscious or inability to wake up
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Slow breathing (fewer than 8 breaths per minute)
- Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths)
- Slow heart rate
- Clammy skin
- Dulled responses, including absent gag reflex
- Extremely low body temperature with bluish skin or paleness
No amount of alcohol consumption is safe, a fact many people overlook. The World Health Organization confirms this, noting that alcohol was classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer decades ago.
"We cannot talk about a so-called safe level of alcohol use," stated Dr. Carina Ferreira-Borges, Acting Unit Lead for Noncommunicable Disease Management and Regional Adviser for Alcohol and Illicit Drugs in the WHO Regional Office for Europe. "It doesn't matter how much you drink; the risk to the drinker's health starts from the first drop of any alcoholic beverage. The only thing we can say for sure is that the more you drink, the more harmful it is - or, in other words, the less you drink, the safer it is."
Practical Steps to Reduce Alcohol Consumption
Eliminating alcohol entirely provides the best protection against alcohol-related health impacts. NHS UK suggests these strategies to cut down drinking:
- Plan ahead: Use the NHS Drink Free Days app to set drinking limits
- Choose lower-alcohol options: Opt for lighter beers under 4% ABV
- Stay committed: Remember that small efforts lead toward healthier living
- Revise social activities: Meet friends for movies, breakfast, coffee, or gym sessions instead of drinking
- Set alcohol budgets: Limit spending on alcoholic beverages
- Avoid drinking rounds: Skip group drink-buying rotations that encourage overconsumption
- Delay drinking: Wait until evening meals before consuming alcohol
- Find alternative stress relievers: Combat boredom or stress with DIY projects, cleaning, or yoga instead of alcohol
Note: This information serves educational purposes only and doesn't constitute medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals before starting new medications, treatments, or changing diet or supplement regimens.
