The Alcohol Blackout: Walking, Talking, Unconscious & Lethal (Mnemosyne Press, www.alcoholblackout.com.) has already caused a stir in the legal community. Trial lawyer Lee A. McCoy says, "When Dr. Sweeney says a person in a blackout cannot form intent it is nothing less than a revolution in criminal justice."

Dr. Donal F. Sweeney, Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, reports that without memory formation, people in a blackout cannot learn, think or plan. They do not know where they are or what they are doing. Wholly impulsive, they are a danger to themselves and others. In his book, Dr. Sweeney details the cost to society and families from blackouts by detailing numerous criminal cases involving blackouts as a central issue.

Blacked out people are able to drive, travel, work and generally function in society, all the while operating without forming memory. How this is possible is explained by Dr. Sweeney: "Alcohol blocks formation of new memory, but old memory remains. People know their family and friends, their schooling, all the procedures they knew previously. They can walk, talk, drive, etc. but they have no idea what happened a minute ago or what they are going to do next."

Dr. Sweeney adds that memory formation can stop abruptly, all at once, and without warning. The person does not know he/she has blacked out nor do those around him. He points out that blackouts can happen to anyone, including moderate and first time drinkers. Because of binge drinking, blackouts are believed to be epidemic on college campuses.

In his book, Dr. Sweeney suggests ways to drink and avoid blackouts and offers a simple test by which family, friends, the police, emergency workers and others may recognize blacked out drinkers and deal with them accordingly. Mnemosyne Press, www.alcoholblackout.com

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