Pinnacle Peak Warns of Drug-Related Blackouts

Scottsdale, AZ – Pinnacle Peak Recovery, located here in Arizona, recently posted an article about blackouts and drugs that can cause them. As a facility dedicated to evidence-based treatment options, they post education blogs to help provide the community with information about substance use. The goal of this is to both lower stigma and allow people to make informed decisions about their health.

The facility starts by laying out exactly what a blackout is and how it can be caused. “A blackout is when a person experiences a loss of consciousness. It can also involve the time before passing out, which is usually accompanied by memory loss. It’s important to note that blackouts aren’t always drug-related. They can happen from things like low blood sugar or a sudden drop in blood pressure.” They then stress that if readers experience blackouts often, especially outside of substance use, seeking medical advice is important to ensure something more serious isn’t occurring.

Pinnacle Peak notes that blackouts can be seen as common, especially with alcohol use. They then stress that just because something might be normalized, doesn’t mean it isn’t harmful. They highlight this by discussing what happens to the body when blackouts occur. “When the brain isn’t receiving the oxygen it should, the risk of a blackout increases greatly. This can happen for a myriad of reasons, whether from low blood pressure not getting the proper amount of blood to the brain, to alcohol and other drugs impeding the bloodstream.”

“Our brain is one of the most important organs in our body. While one blackout, especially one unrelated to substance use, isn’t always a cause for concern, repeated blackouts can increase the risk of long-term damage.” They emphasize. The article then elaborates further on different ways the brain can be impacted by blackouts.

Finally, they let readers know about what substances can more frequently lead to blackouts. “The two most common substances that cause blackouts are alcohol and benzodiazepines.” Some substances can lead to unconsciousness, but loss of consciousness can be related to overdosing instead of a blackout. Benzodiazepines and alcohol are the most common substances because they are depressant-type substances, “... meaning they slow down the body. Because of this, when taken in high doses, benzos can lead to unconsciousness. This is far more likely when they’re combined with other substances such as alcohol.”

Pinnacle Peak does understand the common nature of alcohol blackouts, so they elaborate further on how they occur and what can be done to help if faced with an alcohol-related blackout. “Blackouts from alcohol use are more likely to occur if you drink a lot of alcohol at once and/or if you’re drinking alcohol without also being fed and hydrated. Eating and hydrating properly, as well as drinking alcohol in moderation, can help reduce the risk of blackouts.”

Pinnacle Peak is a full-service treatment center for those with substance use disorder. Their program utilizes evidence-based treatments such as combining detox with dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is known to have higher success rates by encouraging learning skills and healthy behaviors to deal with stressful situations. With a home-like environment, their clients feel surrounded by support and can focus on their recovery.

To learn more about Pinnacle Peak and their program, call 877-781-5821 or visit their website.