Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T51.0

Toxic effect of ethanol

ICD-10-CM Code:
T51.0
ICD-10 Code for:
Toxic effect of ethanol
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
    (S00–T88)
    • Toxic effects of substances chiefly nonmedicinal as to source
      (T51-T65)
      • Toxic effect of alcohol
        (T51)

T51.0 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of toxic effect of ethanol. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Specific Coding Applicable to Toxic effect of ethanol

Non-specific codes like T51.0 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for toxic effect of ethanol:

  • T51.0X for Toxic effect of ethanol - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • T51.0X1 for Toxic effect of ethanol, accidental (unintentional) - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use T51.0X1A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use T51.0X1D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use T51.0X1S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • T51.0X2 for Toxic effect of ethanol, intentional self-harm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use T51.0X2A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use T51.0X2D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use T51.0X2S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • T51.0X3 for Toxic effect of ethanol, assault - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use T51.0X3A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use T51.0X3D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use T51.0X3S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • T51.0X4 for Toxic effect of ethanol, undetermined - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use T51.0X4A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use T51.0X4D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use T51.0X4S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

Coding Guidelines

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Toxic effect of alcohol (T51). Use the following options for the aplicable episode of care:

  • A - initial encounter
  • D - subsequent encounter
  • S - sequela

Patient Education


Alcohol

If you are like many Americans, you drink alcohol at least occasionally. For many people, moderate drinking is probably safe. But drinking less is better for your health than drinking more. And there are some people who should not drink at all.

Because drinking too much can be harmful, it's important to know how alcohol affects you and how much is too much.

How does alcohol affect the body?

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. This means that it is a drug that slows down brain activity. It can change your mood, behavior, and self-control. It can cause problems with memory and thinking clearly. Alcohol can also affect your coordination and physical control.

Alcohol also has effects on the other organs in your body. For example, it can raise your blood pressure and heart rate. If you drink too much at once, it could make you throw up.

Why are the effects of alcohol different from person to person?

Alcohol's effects vary from person to person, depending on a variety of factors, including:

  • How much you drank
  • How quickly you drank it
  • The amount of food you ate before drinking
  • Your age
  • Your sex
  • Your race or ethnicity
  • Your physical condition
  • Whether or not you have a family history of alcohol problems

What is moderate drinking?

  • For most women, moderate drinking is no more than one standard drink a day
  • For most men, moderate drinking is no more than two standard drinks a day

Even though moderate drinking may be safe for many people, there are still risks. Moderate drinking can raise the risk of death from certain cancers and heart diseases.

What is a standard drink?

In the United States, a standard drink is one that contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is found in:

  • 12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol content)
  • 5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol content)
  • 1.5 ounces or a "shot" of distilled spirits or liquor (40% alcohol content)

Who should not drink alcohol?

Some people should not drink alcohol at all, including those who:

  • Are recovering from an alcohol use disorder (AUD) or are unable to control the amount they drink
  • Are under age 21
  • Are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
  • Are taking medicines that can interact with alcohol
  • Have medical conditions that get can worse if you drink alcohol
  • Are planning on driving
  • Will be operating machinery

If you have questions about whether it is safe for you to drink, talk with your health care provider.

What is excessive drinking?

Excessive drinking includes binge drinking and heavy alcohol use:

  • Binge drinking is drinking so much at once that your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level is 0.08% or more. For a man, this usually happens after having 5 or more drinks within a few hours. For a woman, it is after about 4 or more drinks within a few hours.
  • Heavy alcohol use is having having more than 4 drinks on any day for men or more than 3 drinks for women

Binge drinking raises your risk of injuries, car crashes, and alcohol poisoning. It also puts you of becoming violent or being the victim of violence.

Heavy alcohol use over a long period of time may cause health problems such as:

  • Alcohol use disorder
  • Liver diseases, including cirrhosis and fatty liver disease
  • Heart diseases
  • Increased risk for certain cancers
  • Increased risk of injuries

Heavy alcohol use can also cause problems at home, at work, and with friends. But treatment can help.

NIH: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.