‘Alcohol short-circuits important part of the brain’: Swedish newspaper representations of biomedical alcohol research

Figures & data

Table 1. Topics and types of story in the newspaper material.

Topics	Healthy lifestyle	Genes & genetic factors	The brain & the reward system	Medication
No. of articles^a	16	10	14	43
Role of biomedical factors in the story	Backgrounded: mentioned in brief, or located at the end of article or in separate, short facts section	Mainly foregrounded; in headline, intro, first paragraph (6 articles)	Mainly foregrounded; in headline, intro, first paragraph (11 articles)	Mixed: some backgrounded, some foregrounded
The level of description of the body	Molar Body size & weight. Body parts (‘beer belly’, breasts). Organs (liver, heart, stomach). Molecular (9 articles) Testosterone, estrogen, and enzymes	Molecular MAO enzyme; MAO-A; 5-HTT; DNA; polypeptides; proteins; slo-1: ion-channel; chromosome 1, 2, 7, and 16	Molecular Receptors; brain cells; nerve cells; neurotransmitters; serotonin; noradrenaline; dopamine; glutamate; GABA; the CHR-R1 receptor; the glycine receptor; endorphins; dynorphins; neuropeptide Y; reuptake inhibitors; acetylcholine	Molecular (22 articles). The g-allele; slo-1; ghreline; substance P; neurotransmitters; dopamine; serotonin; receptors in the brain; opiate receptors; the reward system; chemical substances in the brain; endorphins; morphine
Characteristics	Everyday drinking patterns, practices & ordinary people central Didactic address mixed with personal address: ‘Did you know that…’, followed by bullet point list. ‘Do you drink too much? Test yourself!’ Advice & warnings Sex differences	Research findings & practices central Didactic & impersonal address Expert interviews (researchers) Optimism (research findings)	Research findings & practices central Didactic & impersonal address Expert interviews (researchers) Explanation: Metaphors (e.g. the reward system ‘reprogrammed’; alcohol ‘shortcut’ to reward) Evolution & reward (natural & unnatural rewards)	‘Consumer’ information central Impersonal address, mixed with: (1) Short expert interviews (researchers; ‘alcohol doctors’; health care representatives) (2) Short interviews with ‘alcoholics” or “former alcoholics’ Optimism (medical solution)
Typical example quotes
	‘There is more partying in summer than in winter, according to sales statistics from Systembolaget. Not that surprising. Alcohol is an important factor in creating comfort and well-being, and everyone wants to have a good time when they’re on vacation, says Ulf Rydberg, Professor in clinical alcohol and drug research at the Karolinska Institute. But then he adds: Alcohol is a poison as well. Because spirits dissolve everything. Both water and lipids. This means that [alcohol] invades every cell in our body and triggers at least 200 chemical reactions. […] What is the right level of risk then? It’s hard to say, but to place a large part of your yearly alcohol consumption in a short time period is not good, especially not for the brain, says Ulf Rydberg. […] Did you know that…: – Sons of alcoholic fathers run a multiple risk of alcoholism?’ [followed by list of facts] (Björk 1999; Sun, wind – and alcohol)	‘Worms of the species C. elegans have about 20.000 genes, half of which are common with human genes. They are also affected by alcohol in about the same ways as humans and other mammals. […] But now, Steven MacIntire and his colleagues at the University of California in San Francisco have for the first time found an individual gene that has a decisive effect when it comes to becoming drunk from alcohol. It is called slo-1. The gene produces a specific protein, a so-called ion channel that is found on the surface of brain cells. When the researchers knocked out the gene among their research worms, those were not affected by the alcohol. They were able to wriggle their way straight and nice just like ordinary sober worms. Accordingly, it should be possible to find a medication that alters the effect of alcohol on the ion channel.’ (Bojs 2003; Sober worms raise hopes of alcoholism medication)	‘The reward system is vital to our survival. It brings us feelings of pleasure when we eat, quench our thirst or have sex. But it can be short-circuited by alcohol and other drugs. When this happens, the delicate balance between the neurotransmitters is disturbed and the brain’s chemistry altered. Researchers are trying to understand how this happens. […] Alcohol increases the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain’s reward system. The same is true for chips, the jogging round, and many other behaviors that bring us satisfaction. But alcohol does not bring about a greater increase in dopamine than our natural actions do. Amphetamine, on the other hand, produces ten times as much dopamine, Bo Söderpalm says.’ (Carlsson 2006; Alcohol shortcircuits important part of the brain)	‘Boston. Swedish and American researchers have found a new medicine that can help against alcohol misuse. The tablets reduce the craving and make patients happier, according to the first trials. In Sweden today, several medicines are approved for use against alcohol misuse. But none of them have become a big success. One of them, Revia, has been showed to be most effective on a smaller group of alcoholics with a particular genetic variation. […] The research group first worked with so-called knock-out mice. The mice lack a gene for the neurotransmitter substance P. […] The mice that lacked substance P drank only half the amount of liquor of the other mice in the experiment.’ (Bojs 2008; New pill reduces the craving for alcohol)

^a Five articles have two main topics (e.g. genes and the brain; medication and the brain) and one has three topics (genes, the brain, and medication). Six articles were not classified as belonging to any of the four main topics. These articles focus on addiction in general/as a concept, including perspectives from several disciplines (two articles); treatment, and alcoholism (two articles); alcohol, pregnancy, and FAS (one article); and alcohol & drug policy (one article).

Figure 1. Overview of how the newspaper articles explain the role of the brain in addiction.

Björk R. (1999) “Sun, wind – and alcohol”. Expressen July 26, 1999.

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Bojs K. (2003) “Sober worms raise hopes for alcoholism medication”. Dagens Nyheter, December 14, 2003.

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Carlsson L. (2006) “Alcohol short-circuits important part of the brain”. Svenska Dagbladet, March 5, 2006.

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