In the News: Did Shawne Merriman Overdose?

On Monday, the LA Times reported that retired San Diego Charger and NFL Pro Bowl linebacker, Shawne Merriman,  overdosed Sunday night after “ingesting an unspecified combination of alcohol and a drug.”

Merriman was transported to Sinai Medical Center at 9:30pm because of an undisclosed medical emergency.

Four hours later, he tweeted “Damn I lost shades lol.” Soon after, he added “Had a fly ass @LightsOutBrand shirt on tonight #Ruined.”

Shawne Merriman was at The Colony when the call occurred.

Merriman took to Twitter again to deny reports of an overdose, claiming that he was merely dehydrated.

“I’m fine guys been working my butt off with training and launching LightsOut and my MBA,” he tweeted, “flew in from shooting a film in Canada and was…Dehydrated. @TMZ got me good though this morning lol.”

TMZ reports that Merriman appeared “incredibly sober,” but that officials say that they responded to a “possible overdose” with the caller reporting the man was “barely conscious.”

Alcohol poisoning is a serious — and sometimes deadly — consequence of drinking large amounts of alcohol. The risk of alcohol poisoning is even greater if a person is dehydrated, since alcohol is a diuretic.  When a person has alcohol poisoning they have consumed a toxic amount of alcohol, usually over a short period of time. Their BAC is so high, it is considered toxic to their body. Alcohol poisoning can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical care.

Signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning include:

-Cold, clammy, pale, or bluish skin

-Unconscious or unable to be roused

-Slow or irregular breathing

-Puking repeatedly or uncontrollably

-Seizures

Alcohol slows involuntary body responses like gag reflex breathing. With enough alcohol, these reactions can slow to a dangerous level or stop altogether. Someone who has alcohol poisoning is at risk for decreased breathing and gag reflex. Alcohol also irritates the stomach. Many people who are suffering from alcohol poisoning vomit. If the person is unconscious when vomiting begins, they run the risk of asphyxiating on the vomit, particularly if they are lying on their back. People with alcohol poisoning may have seizures or succumb to hypothermia, since alcohol lowers your internal body temperature. Even if a victim of alcohol poisoning lives, an alcohol overdose can lead to irreversible brain damage.

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Sources:

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-shawne-merriman-overdosed-20130610,0,5233810.story

http://www.tmz.com/2013/06/10/shawne-merriman-sober-video-hospital-medical-emergency/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2013/06/10/shawne-merriman-hospitalized/