NEWS and ARTICLES
National Institutes of Health (USA) - NIH statement on International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day
International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Day, recognized every year on Sept. 9th, is an important reminder that prenatal alcohol exposure is the leading preventable cause of birth defects and developmental disorders in the United States.
Bradford Telegraph and Argus (UK) - Binge drink warning to Bradford mums-to-be
The nine per cent of pregnant women in Bradford who binge drink have been warned their actions could lead to permanent health problems in their children.
Prince Albert Daily Herald (Canada) - FASD Committee urges pregnant women to stay away from alcohol
On Monday, the Prince Albert Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) committee, along with 30 other organizations around the province, will be bringing awareness to the disorder.
Wawatay News (Canada) - FASD program helps community better understand disorder
For the last 10 years, the NorWest Community Health Centre has been running a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) program out of the Thunder Bay site.
The State Journal-Register - Karel Homrig: Alcohol use during pregnancy comes with costs
Sept. 9 is International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day. Each year, roughly 40,000 children are born in this country with some form of birth defect as a result of alcohol use during pregnancy.
Nunatsiaq News - Advocate for the disadvantaged, Nunavut judge tells lawyers
In a stinging judgment Sept. 4 that lambastes the Government of Nunavut for ignoring the many people who suffer from fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, Justice Robert Kilpatrick called on the territory’s lawyers to advocate for the needs of the disadvantaged.
Phys.Org - Study associates poor academic achievement and maternal drinking
Researchers from WA and the UK have linked heavy drinking and binge drinking, even occasionally during pregnancy, to children's academic achievement in reading, writing and spelling; and this impact is related to the trimester in which the exposure occurred.
Medical Xpress (South Africa) - Studies examine fetal alcohol syndrome in South Africa
Two recently published studies report prevalence data about fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) in South Africa and find that negative consequences of prenatal exposure to alcohol may be lessened if a child is provided with adequate nutrition and appropriate cognitive and behavioral stimulation in his or her first seven years of life.
National Post - Why some pregnant women are ignoring conventional wisdom and having a cup of coffee or a glass of wine
No smoking. No alcohol. No caffeine. No drugs. No carbonated beverages. No deli meats. No sushi. No hot dogs. No hot tubs. No hair dye.
The Guardian - Alcohol before first pregnancy raises breast cancer risk, says study
Higher alcohol consumption by women before their first pregnancy increases the risk of developing breast cancer, US researchers have found.
The Daily Telegraph (Australia) - Pregnant women warned to adopt zero tolerance approach to alcohol intake
TO DRINK or not to drink during pregnancy: the age-old debate is ramping up with the State Government ordering expectant mums not to touch a drop of alcohol.
Jagran Post (Australia) - Women drink less alcohol during pregnancy: Study
Pregnant women are consuming less alcohol overall but the trend to cut back has failed to carry through to high-risk drinkers, a new Australian study found.
Irish Examiner (Ireland) - Alcohol consumption during pregnancy down
There has been a “marked reduction” in alcohol consumption among pregnant women, according to new research.
Londonderry Sentinel (UK) - Boozing during pregnancy danger booklet launched
A CROSS-BORDER health agency has issued a new pocket-sized boolet on boozing during pregnancy to coincide with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Day.
ABC Online (Australia) - Pregnant women continuing to drink alcohol despite warnings from medical experts
The study published in the Medical Journal of Australia, based on data from 2007 to 2011, shows the majority of women are choosing not to drink any alcohol while pregnant.
The Telegram - Invisible disability
If you saw Tanya, you might never know there was anything different about her. If you got to know her, you might wonder why she’s jumped from job to job. You might call her unfocused.
British Columbia - Support and awareness are key to ending FASD
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) affects an estimated nine in every 1,000 infants. And because the wide-ranging symptoms are not always visibly apparent, it is sometimes called an invisible disability. Yet those who live with FASD face life-long challenges that most of us don’t ever have to worry about.
scoop.co.nz (New Zealand) - Auckland marks World FASD Awareness Day
Monday 9 September is World FASD Awareness Day. At precisely 9.09am people around the world take a moment to reflect on the harm that can happen when alcohol is consumed during pregnancy, which can result in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
UPCOMING EVENTS
Eurocare and EUFASD - Protecting the unborn baby from alcohol
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is the leading known cause of birth defects and developmental disorders in the EU. Unfortunately, many women are not aware that throughout pregnancy, even at low levels of exposure, alcohol interferes with the normal development and can seriously damage the unborn child.
First International Conference on Prevention of FASD
Prevention of harm from alcohol use during pregnancy is of rapidly growing concern in many countries. The International Conference on Prevention of FASD will be the first event of its kind to focus entirely on this important subject. The conference is expected to draw up to 1,000 participants, including many renowned experts in research and policy.
SAMHSA - “Preventing Alcohol Use during Pregnancy – Applying New Solutions to Ongoing Needs”: An International FASD Awareness Day Webinar Hosted by the SAMHSA FASD Center for Excellence
In our continuing effort to raise awareness of the dangers of consuming alcohol during pregnancy, the SAMHSA FASD Center for Excellence will host a Webinar on September 09, 2013, International FASD Awareness Day.
MATERIALS and VIDEOS
SAMHSA - 2013 SAMHSA FASD Center FASD Awareness Day Flyer
Ask the Expert” page of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Center for Excellence
Every month, Dan Dubovsky, M.S.W., the Center’s FASD Specialist, or a special guest will use this space to write about an aspect of FASD in response to questions from the Center’s audience.
YourAlberta - Alberta recognizes International FASD Awareness Day
Alberta recognizes International FASD Awareness Day on September 9 -- a time to share the message that expectant mothers should not drink alcohol during pregnancy.
FASD Awareness Day
Help CAMH recognize FASD Awareness Day on September 9th by learning more about the dangers of mixing alcohol and pregnancy.
Center4Disabilities - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day
September 9th is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day! Every year, on the ninth day of the ninth month at 9:09 a.m., International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day is observed.
MOFAS: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Basics Webinar
This free online training is for anyone interested in learning more about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) including parents, professionals and educators.
Juvenile Court Programs - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome - Trying Differently
A presentation by one of the leading authorities on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). Diane V. Malbin, M.S.W., Founder of FASCETS, will explain what FAS is, how it is diagnosed, and treatment venues.
RESEARCH
Circumpoar Health - Prenatal alcohol exposure among Alaska Native/American Indian infants
Recent reports indicate a decline in rates of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) among Alaska Native and American Indian (AN/AI) infants. Nevertheless, AN/AI infants remain disproportionately impacted by the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure.
Circumpolar Health - An Examination of the Social Determinants of Health as Factors Related to Health, Healing and Prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in a Northern Context – The Brightening Our Home Fires Project, Northwest Territories, Canada
The Brightening Our Home Fires (BOHF) project was conceptualized as an exploratory project to examine the issue of the prevention of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) from a women’s health perspective in the Northwest Territories (NT).
Alcoholism - Infant Emotional Withdrawal: A Precursor of Affective and Cognitive Disturbance in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Our aim was to test the hypothesis that emotional withdrawal is an early indicator of affective disorder in infants heavily exposed prenatally to alcohol, which is independent of alcohol-related effects on mother–infant interaction and temperament and discriminated between children later diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and partial FAS (PFAS) and predicted cognitive and affective outcomes at 5 and 9 years.
Alcohol Research - Dysregulation of microRNA Expression and Function Contributes to the Etiology of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are members of a large class of non–protein-coding RNA (ncRNA) molecules that represent a significant, but until recently unappreciated, layer of cellular regulation.
Alcohol Research - In Utero Alcohol Exposure, Epigenetic Changes, and Their Consequences
Exposure to alcohol has serious consequences for the developing fetus, leading to a range of conditions collectively known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Most importantly, alcohol exposure affects the development of the brain during critical periods of differentiation and growth, leading to cognitive and behavioral deficits.
Alcohol Researcher - Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Cellular Differentiation: A Role for Polycomb and Trithorax Group Proteins in FAS Phenotypes?
Exposure to alcohol significantly alters the developmental trajectory of progenitor cells and fundamentally compromises tissue formation (i.e., histogenesis). Emerging research suggests that ethanol can impair mammalian development by interfering with the execution of molecular programs governing differentiation.
IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Neue Nordhäuser Zeitung (Germany) - FASD KANN VERMIEDEN WERDEN
Seit dem 9. 9. 1999 findet jährlich der internationale Tag des alkoholgeschädigten Kindes statt. Zum einen, dass diese besonders unserer Unterstützung bedürfenden Kinder nicht „vergessen“ werden und zum anderen als Präventionskampagne und Aufruf „kein Alkohol in der Schwangerschaft“. In Sülzhayn wird daran erinnert...
CleanKids-Magazin (Germany) - Kein Alkohol in Schwangerschaft und Stillzeit
Zum Tag des alkoholgeschädigten Kindes am 9. September 2013 warnt die BZgA vor den Risiken des Alkoholkonsums in Schwangerschaft und Stillzeit.
Soester-anzeiger (Germany) - Ungewollte Adoption: Weitere Eltern melden sich
Das Schicksal des Soester Ehepaars, das ohne sein Wissen das Kind einer alkoholkranken Mutter adoptiert hat, ist offensichtlich kein Einzelfall. Auf den Anzeiger-Bericht vom vergangenen Donnerstag haben sich weitere Eltern gemeldet, denen genau das gleiche Unglück widerfahren ist. Eine Adoptivmutter schreibt: „Es ist eine Tragödie!“
Oberlandesgericht Hamm (Germany) - Ungewollte Adoption eines alkoholgeschädigten Säuglings – mögliche Amtshaftungsansprüche sind verjährt Adoptieren Eheleute einen infolge eines Alkoholmissbrauchs der leiblichen Mutter behinderten Säugling, ohne nach ihrer Darstellung vom zuständigen Jugendamt über den Alkoholmissbrauch und dessen Folgen aufgeklärt zu werden, verjährt ein möglicher Amtshaftungsanspruch innerhalb von drei Jahren, nachdem die Eheleute von seinen Voraussetzungen erstmals Kenntnis erlangt haben.
