Comments on: Alcoholic Blackouts: The Big Lie

By: Dr. Neill Neill

Dr. Neill Neill — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:57:27 +0000

Dear George,

I have clearly hit a nerve with you. I do draw on direct experience from the alcoholic days and later. People do make conscious moral choices when intoxicated. They decide to take a taxi rather than drive, although they know the could drive. The next day they have no memory of how they got home. One particularly violent friend would sometimes get murderous when intoxicated, so, rather than attempt to kill someone, he would leave the bar, walk to the police station and ask to be put in a cell for the night. When he would wake up in the morning, he would have no knowledge of why he was there. Was he arrested (again) for beating someone up? The point is he was capable of conscious moral choice when intoxicated, but his memory of events was totally blacked out.

The “alcoholic blackout” is a little too convenient an excuse for poor moral choices that were made quite consciously when intoxicated.

I won’t debate this with you, because you have blackouts, and therefore couldn’t possibly remember if you were conscious as you made moral choices when intoxicated.

By: George

George — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:06:38 +0000

To say that in an alcoholic blackout, a person knows what they are doing is an an outright IGNORANT, profess to know all assumption. If you yourself have not experienced this, then you know NOTHING.
I myself have experienced this and have known many others who have. Why don’t you get your facts straight before opening your mouth or maybe this is not your subject to profess any knowledge about.
MY GOD! AM I GLAD THAT I DON’T BELIEVE MOST OF WHAT I READ ON THE INTERNET ANYMORE. GET REAL!!!

By: Dr. Neill Neill

Dr. Neill Neill — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 02:09:48 +0000

Hi Scott,

The blackout is not about doing things while unconscious; it’s about not remembering what you did. Moral choices are still there when intoxicated. However, inhibitions are down and the willingness to act impulsively is increased. Perhaps the two glasses of wine removed her inhibition about going out. She understood the moral issue, or else the would have told you she was going out, not sneaked out. If she could remember, and if she were completed honest, she might say something like, “I knew it was wrong and I knew it was high risk, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. I would understand if you dumped me. Regardless of what you do, what I drank last night was my last alcohol. I’m calling my doctor this morning. I know my blackouts are the result of the brain damage from abusing alcohol, and I refuse to live that way anymore.”

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 01:33:06 +0000

I’m not an alcoholic and have never had a blackout. My wife is currently in a rehab facility. My wife and I went out on a date one night had a couple of glasses of wine, came home and went to bed around midnight. After I fell asleep she got out of our bed with me, snuck out of the house and went to a bar. She continued to drink, met a man she didn’t know and followed him home and had sex. She told me she blacked out and had no idea what she was doing. She would never do this sober. My questions is do they know what they are doing is wrong when they are doing is this “blackout” stage? I tend to think alcoholism is about getting the next drink and that you still have your morals and you know what is right and wrong when you do these actions. Can you help me with this?

By: Dr. Neill Neill

Dr. Neill Neill — Tue, 11 May 2010 15:49:59 +0000

It’s your choice, George, although it’s a life choice most wouldn’t take.

By: george

george — Tue, 11 May 2010 03:32:58 +0000

blackouts are now a regular occurrence , from strip bars to pub brawls to hookers in motels , once a week or once every 10 days. it’s a doozie. kinda sucks. the fun is now gone. guilt, no glory.

By: Dr. Neill Neill

Dr. Neill Neill — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:25:05 +0000

Hi Sonia,

Anything's possible, but continued alcohol abuse alone could account for the worsening blackouts, without the meth.

Alcohol is alcohol. It doesn't matter much what form you drink it in.

By: sonia

sonia — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:06:32 +0000

I black out extremely often I would say 70% of the time when I drink. I this never used to happen to me until about 2 years ago. now it seems like almost every time I drink. I’m gonna try just drinking beer and see if it reduces or stops my blackouts if it doesn’t work I will quit drinkin. I used to use methenphedamine for 2 years I been clean 5 years. Do u think my past drug use may be a factor in why i’m having these blackouts now so bad?

By: Dr. Neill Neill

Dr. Neill Neill — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:11:39 +0000

Smart man, Duane! Many guys waste years looking for a work-around.

By: Duane

Duane — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:22:25 +0000

I have a drinking problem. I dont drink all the time but when i do i dont know when to quit. I have blacked out and been abusive to my wife and woke up and dont even remember it. Im seeking help through aa and if you have any suggestions ill try that too. I used to have a drug problem and i quit and started drinking. I have had enough of this. I really love my wife and i dont know why i would do anything to hurt her. When im sober i do not behave like that and it puzzles me because other people around me drink and are fine. I have come to the conclusion that i just cannot take another drink. period.