The blackout—a period of time you can’t remember due to excessive drinking—is often made light of in the world of entertainment. A character’s blackout might be played for laughs in a comedy, or it might be used to hide a key piece of information from a character (and the audience) in a mystery or thriller. 

But sometimes, a blackout might be portrayed as the impetus someone needs to get help. A blackout is, indeed, very serious. 

Blackouts – What They Are and What They Aren’t

Maybe you picture a blackout as the sort of situation in which a person wakes up in the median of a busy highway and can’t remember how they got there. But blackouts generally aren’t so dramatic. That doesn’t make them less dangerous, however.

When a person has blacked out, their brain has stopped recording memories—but that doesn’t automatically mean they’ve lost consciousness. Quite the opposite, in fact.

People experiencing a blackout may engage in all sorts of activities from the most mundane to the extremely dangerous. On the dangerous end of the spectrum are activities like driving, vandalism, excessive spending, risky sexual behavior, and a host of other things that could result in serious short- and long-term problems. It is this lack of inhibition and good decision-making processes—combined with the hole left in the memory—that makes blackouts so alarming.

Blackouts and Substance Use Disorders – Is There a Connection?

As we’ve noted, blackouts are dangerous for a whole host of reasons. The decisions—if they can even be called “decisions”—a person makes while in a heavily impaired state can have awful consequences for both the drinker and those around them. 

But does experiencing a blackout automatically mean you have a substance use disorder? Maybe not.

There is evidence to suggest that some people are more susceptible to blackouts than others. As a result, it is difficult to conclusively link blackouts with substance use disorders. It appears to be the case that a person can experience blackouts without having a substance use disorder. And the reverse is true, too: a person can have a substance use disorder related to alcohol without ever experiencing a blackout.

Again, this doesn’t mean that blackouts should be shrugged off. If you find yourself at a loss to remember what happened after you had too much to drink, you will want to evaluate the role alcohol plays in your life.

Spotting a Blackout in Progress

If you find yourself out with friends who are drinking, it can be helpful to know how to identify when someone might be having a blackout incident so that you can intervene and keep them safe. 

Some questions to keep in mind: 

• Has your friend been drinking on an empty stomach or drinking a lot in a brief period of time? 
• Are they having trouble following your conversation or repeating themselves? 
• Do they seem excessively distracted or unable to remember what they are doing (or even where they are)? 
• Are they behaving—or contemplating behaving—in risky ways that seem out of keeping with their personality? 
• Are they suddenly insensitive to others in ways they would not be under normal circumstances? 

If you suspect a friend is experiencing a blackout, make sure they have a safe way home and that they are not left alone until they have had a chance to sober up. Leaving them to their own devices may be dangerous—for them and for anyone they encounter.

Feel Like You’re in the Dark About Blackouts? We Can Help

At Sobriety Centers of New Hampshire, we are ready and able to answer your questions about blackouts, substance use disorders, and more. If treatment for a substance use disorder is what you (or a loved one) need, we offer expertise and compassion in a setting that will support your detox and rehabilitation. Together, we can build a foundation for long-term sobriety—and that will mean no more mysterious holes in your memory or dangerous decisions that you can’t undo. Let us shine a light for you on the path away from blackouts.