While traveling abroad, indulging in cheap alcohol may seem like a good way to enjoy some leisure time. However, for teenagers Holly Morton-Bowles and Bianca Jones, it turned into a tragic experience.
The reason behind this is that in several countries, low-cost alcohol or homemade moonshine is often mixed with methanol to increase profits. Unfortunately, this dangerous practice can have fatal outcomes.
Holly’s parents, during a recent interview with Australia’s 60 Minutes, advised others to avoid traveling to Laos. They recommended that tourists should ‘remove this country from their bucket list,’ as they perceived that ‘your life is worth nothing’ to those tampering with drinks for financial gain.
Recognizing the symptoms of methanol poisoning can be challenging, especially since it usually occurs during drinking sessions in unfamiliar settings.
Seeking immediate medical attention is crucial if methanol consumption is suspected, as the risks of blindness, coma, and death increase with time.
The body starts metabolizing the contaminated alcohol within hours, releasing toxic byproducts that can severely harm organs.
Medical professionals stress the importance of seeking assistance promptly, as methanol poisoning treatment is most effective within 10 to 30 hours post-ingestion.
Delays can result in irreversible damage and increased mortality risk, highlighting the importance of recognizing methanol poisoning symptoms early.
The Travel Aware campaign notes that early symptoms can be hard to discern as they often resemble regular alcohol intoxication.
However, be vigilant for the following indicators:
Avoiding methanol-laced alcohol while traveling may not always be feasible, but there are ways to reduce the risk of exposure to toxic methanol.
Immediate medical intervention can help address these symptoms and stop methanol from further damaging your organs.
Doctors generally administer ethanol (pure alcohol) to cleanse the system of methanol, or provide Fomepizole to halt its metabolism. In severe cases, dialysis may be required.