19 Jul What are the primary research and findings for project type B. ‘How does alcohol affect the human brain’? Below I have attached all the work you have done with this project. Remember t

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HOW DOES ALCOHOL AFFECT THE BRAIN

By

Amanda B. Diaz Martin

Chair: Faculty Chair’s Name

Committee Member: Faculty Member’s Name

Committee Member: Outside/Faculty Member’s Name

A PROFESSIONAL PROJECT PRESENTED TO

THE SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION+JOURNALISM

OF FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Introduction

The National Institute of Health researched the impact of alcohol on the brain; the research shows that alcohol can alter brain structure and its functioning causing behavioral changes such as addiction and craving (Nutt et al., 2021). More studies have shown that excessive consumption of alcohol reduces brain activity. This reduced activity affects how the brain communicates, making it difficult for the brain to communicate with areas responsible for memory, judgment, balance, and speech.

Background

The relationship between cerebral atrophy and alcohol was studied many decades ago, with post-mortem findings showing that the impacts of alcohol affect both the cortical and subcortical regions of the brain (Nutt et al., 2021). Over the years, scientists have used more advanced medical techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to identify specific areas affected by alcohol. According to Martinez-Maldonado et al. (2022), the severity of brain damage is related to the chronicity of alcohol, people with high alcohol dependence are reported to have severe brain damage.

According to a report by World Health Organization (WHO), the prevalence of alcohol is estimated to be at 4% globally, resulting in three million deaths every year (Nutt et al., 2021). Therefore, WHO has flagged alcohol dependence as an international public health emergency, alcohol dependency and brain damage not only affect the alcoholic, but also affect their family and society. Various challenges prevent the proper management of alcohol abuse, they include competing priorities in the health sector and a shortage of healthcare providers (Greene et al., 2018). Therefore, this research will focus on evaluating how to overcome these challenges and the need for WHO to develop substance misuse services to reduce the impact of alcohol on the population, which targets the brain.

Problem

In this research, brain damage is the major challenge that needs to be solved. People with heavy drinking problems have significant challenges with non-verbal communication, they have poor emotional expression, body language, and tone of their voice, this communication problem will be studied in depth in the research.

Campaign Objectives

The secondary literature shows that alcohol is a global pandemic that takes away the lives of three million people annually. This research aims at creating awareness of the impact of alcohol on the brain to reduce these casualties with a significant number. The project will also look for ways the WHO can increase medical experts dealing with alcoholism. The study will also seek to understand the alcohol percentage less likely to have significant effects on the brain.

Proposed Research Methods

The primary research method for this project will be in-depth interviews with chronic alcohol drinkers to understand how alcohol has affected their cortisol and subcortical brain regions. The research will be distributed across different races to identify these chronic drinkers easily; the project will use recent admissions into rehabilitation centers. Participation will be voluntary, and there will be no reward for anyone participating in the project.

Anticipated Application of the Results

The results from this project will be useful in deciding how to deal with people suffering from alcohol dependence. Moreover, the outcome will inform healthcare professionals of the urgency of alcoholism and the need to venture into the flagged global health emergency. I will use the findings to spread awareness of alcoholism and the impacts of alcohol on the most important part of our body which is the brain.

References

Greene, M. C., Kane, J. C., Khoshnood, K., Ventevogel, P., & Tol, W. A. (2018). Challenges and opportunities for implementation of substance misuse interventions in conflict-affected populations.  Harm reduction journal,  15(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-018-0267-1

Martinez-Maldonado, A., Verdejo-Roman, J., Sion, A., Rubio, G., Perez-Garcia, M., & Jurado-Barba, R. (2022). Effect of chronic alcohol consumption on brain structure in males with alcohol use disorder without a familiar history of alcoholism.  Journal of Psychiatric Research,  149, 210-216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.03.005

Nutt, D., Hayes, A., Fonville, L., Zafar, R., Palmer, E. O., Paterson, L., & Lingford-Hughes, A. (2021). Alcohol and the Brain.  Nutrients,  13(11), 3938. https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fnu13113938

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HOW DOES ALCOHOL AFFECT THE BRAIN

By

Amanda B. Diaz Martin

Chair: Faculty Chair’s Name

Committee Member: Faculty Member’s Name

Committee Member: Outside/Faculty Member’s Name

A PROFESSIONAL PROJECT PRESENTED TO

THE SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION+JOURNALISM

OF FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE

OF MASTER OF SCIENCE

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Alcohol is one of the most abused drugs globally, its severe effects on the brain have led to a socioeconomic burden on societies. Qualitative and quantitative studies show that alcohol abuse is contributed by internal and external factors such as cravings, peer pressure, poor social support, socioeconomic contexts, and negative events in life (Zhu et al., 2019). In this paper, a SWOT analysis of how alcohol affects the brain will highlight the complex nature of health interventions, the nature of relapse, and the coping skills needed to facilitate abstinence from alcohol misuse.

Strengths

Anti-alcohol rehabilitation centers. Alcohol addicts can receive treatment from well-established rehabilitation facilities in the country. Some psychological practitioners are well-trained to persuade them into sobriety and help them find new jobs when they recover. Vocational training. This training is very important to these individuals because they can use them to find new jobs and help improve their mental health.

Weaknesses

Peer influence. As addicts try to recover from alcohol and improve their mental health, external driving factors such as peer influence hold them back, which worsens their condition. Discrimination. Despite trying to find help and stop abusing alcohol, addicts experience discrimination; their family and community members look down on them. Cravings. Alcohol addicts who want to quit alcohol face daily challenges because most commodities remind them of alcohol.

Opportunities

Surveillance systems. The World Health Organization is partnering with the government to surveil alcohol addicts by including details of their conditions in the anti-alcohol system, and they are followed for detoxification treatments. Family. Most alcohol addicts do not have or have absconded their family responsibility; helping them integrate or start a family will help reduce alcohol consumption and improve their brain structures.

Threats

Other drugs. When a person abuse other drugs such as marijuana and cigarettes, they exacerbate their need to consume alcohol. Attitude towards alcohol. Many people do not see alcohol as a serious problem to their brain structure; they think drinking is entertaining. Emotional effects. Alcoholics are likely to consume alcohol when stressed to cope with stressful situations.

References

Zhu, Y., Zhong, N., Su, H., Ruan, X., Bao, J., Zhang, L., … & Zhao, M. (2019). Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of reinitiation into methamphetamine abusers: qualitative findings from an exploration of methamphetamine abusers in Shanghai, China.  General psychiatry,  32(3). https://doi.org/10.1136%2Fgpsych-2019-100062