Providing Information About the Neurobiology of Alcohol Use Disorders to Close the ‘Referral to Treatment Gap’

Informational Videos About Alcohol Use: Feasibility and Acceptability

“…One such video was Alcohol and the Brain. This video is a professionally produced 20-minute video that explains the brain-based nature of alcohol use and recovery; how the brain recovers in response to abstinence, behavioral and pharmacological treatments; and participation in mutual support groups (Finnell, 2012). Feasibility and acceptability of the video had previously been established when the video was used as part of a health education program for professional firefighters.…”

“…Participants in that study showed a significant increase in alcohol-related knowledge from pre- to post-test (Finnell, Carey, & Nowzari, 2013). The importance of disseminating information about the neurobiological base for alcohol use was the focus of a previous publication by Finnell and Nowzari (2013), suggesting that providing this science-based information would help mitigate the stigma that can be a barrier to persons seeking and receiving treatment. This point was underscored in the first ever Surgeon General’s Report on the topic of alcohol, drugs, and health (USDHHS, 2017) in which the Surgeon General stated, “over the past few decades, we have built a robust evidence base on this subject.…”

“Turning the tide” in Treatment of substance use: A nursing response

“…[12][13][14]46] Armed with this knowledge, nurses can educate their patients and families to increase their understanding of the illness which could lead to greater compassion and reduced guilt and shame. [47] For people with SUDs, the knowledge that their negative actions during their time of substance use were the result of impaired brain function could help reduce internalized stigma, which is a major barrier to help seeking. [34] Understanding the negative behaviors that were exhibited during times of substance use could lead to healing relationships which would provide recovery promoting support for people with SUDs.…”