If you’re stopped for drunk driving but haven’t had a drop, it’s up to you to defend yourself against the charges. If you suffer from one of these conditions, it may explain any odd behavior.
There are a few medical conditions that may make someone appear drunk. The first is diabetes. With diabetes, a low blood sugar can make a person slur his or her speech, walk oddly or seem incoherent. High blood sugars can lead to aggression or odd behavior. Both conditions are medical emergencies, so it’s important for the police or others on scene to recognize that the person isn’t drunk and to seek medical help immediately.
Epilepsy can also make a person appear drunk. They might seem detached, dizzy or fall down. Staring spells, where the person interrupts what he or she is saying or doing to stand or sit and stare blankly for a few seconds, is a major sign of a seizure taking place, even if the person isn’t suffering from convulsions or other signs of a seizure. Problems speaking, slurring words and other symptoms may be present.
Another condition that can make a person appear drunk is if he or she has a brain injury. Some people with brain injuries suffer from sudden mood chances, difficulty standing or walking and slurred speech.
Conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia may also produce symptoms that appear as if the person is drunk. Those suffering from the conditions may be aggressive, have memory loss, have sudden changes in mood or be confused.
All these and several other medical conditions can lead to behavior that makes you appear intoxicated; your attorney can help you build a case that explains why you looked drunk when you really hadn’t had anything to drink.
Source: SleeWee, “Medical Conditions That Can Make a Person Act Drunk,” accessed Sep. 01, 2016
