FASD News - 19/2020

CBC.ca (Canada) - 'I can be myself': Youth FASD support program expands in Yellowknife
Anderson is among a growing group of young people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) who are gaining independence through the 4Y program by helping them transition into adulthood.
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Mirage News (Canada) - New research demonstrates effectiveness of alcohol warning labels
“This new Canadian research is significant because it provides further evidence that effective alcohol warning labels, such as the label proposed by Australia’s own food labelling and safety regulator, can result in fewer children being born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD),” Ms Giorgi said.
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Mental Daily - Study Shows Alcohol-Related Impairments To Brain Growth In Early Fetal Development
Using magnetic resonance imaging, a group of researchers at Oregon Health & Science University examined the fetal brain development of rhesus macaques and found impairments as early as the third trimester caused by exposure to alcohol.
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CBC.ca (Canada) - Why Community Matters More Than Ever For Parents Of Kids With Special Needs
I cried a few times that first week after coronavirus hit in earnest, when trips were cancelled, schools were closed and in-person supports slid away.
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Science Daily - Signs of fetal alcohol syndrome detected in womb
New images reveal the earliest impairments to nonhuman primate fetal brain development due to alcohol ingested by the mother, in a study involving rhesus macaques. Magnetic resonance imaging showed impairments to brain growth during the third trimester of pregnancy, even though the fetus was exposed to alcohol only during the first trimester.
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The Daily Cougar - Simultaneous alcohol, cannabinoid leads to brain defects in fetuses, UH professor finds
Simultaneous alcohol and cannabinoid use, or the co-ingestion of alcohol and marijuana, can lead to neurovascular deficits in fetuses, a UH biomedical engineering professor found.
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Girls, Women, Alcohol, and Pregnancy - Putting evidence in women’s hands – alcohol and cannabis use when breastfeeding
Two updated resources are available about alcohol and breastfeeding: a research update from CanFASD Alcohol and Breastfeeding and a brochure from Best Start  Mixing Alcohol and Breastfeeding.  They both illustrate how little research there is available, and how public health messaging directed to new mothers has changed over time.
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COMING UP
EUFASD - EUFASD 2020 POSTPONED
Due to the uncertainties around the Covid-19 pandemic, the Board feels that the wisest decision is to postpone the conference until 12 to 15 September of 2021. We are very sorry not to meet you in a few months, but hope to see in 2021! You will be able to get a refund of your registration fee if you have already paid, or alternatively, you can simply keep the registration which will apply next year.
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CanFASD - Towards healthy outcomes for individuals with FASD: Advancing a common intervention framework (Jun 5, 2020)
In this presentation Dr. Jacqueline Pei will discuss an evidence informed model of intervention for individuals with FASD: Towards Healthy Outcomes. Achieving healthy outcomes for individuals with FASD requires working together towards meaningful goals for each individual.
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SHAAP - ‘Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / FASD: everybody’s business' (19TH MAY AT 2 - 4 PM)
Dr Jennifer Shields, Principal Clinical Pyschologist (FAAST) & Dr Sarah Brown, Consultant Paediatrician.
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FASD Hub Scotland - ‘What is #FASD? - an introduction to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder’
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Violence Intervention Program - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Part 2 – June 22, 23, and 25.
Three 4-hour training series – 12 total hours (11 hours CEUs) – Course meets the qualifications for 11 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. CE provider # 139288.
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CTRI - LIVE VIRTUAL Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (Jul 07 - Jul 08, 2020)
This is a live virtual event using Zoom, an online meeting platform. Please check system requirements prior to registering.
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Surrey PLace - FASD Strategies for Caregivers (Jun 25 2020)
This 2-hour workshop provides caregivers and professionals with strategies to teach and support children and youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. We’ll talk about the causes of challenging behaviours, become active in identifying our children’s strengths, and uncover where and how to add support.
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Central Alberta FASD Network - FASD 101: The Basics and What you need to know (26 May 2020)
The network's introductory FASD workshop will be offered online via Zoom by Our Community Prevention Staff: Tammy Predovic and Chris Chabot.
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Palo Alto University - ASD and FASD: Similarities, Differences, and Clinical and Forensic Implications with Dr. Jerrod Brown (August 26, 2020)
This webinar on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): Similarities, Differences, and Clinical and Forensic Implications is presented by Dr. Jerrod Brown.
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BC Council of Families - Understanding Fetal Alcohol and Other Neurobehavioral Conditions: A Brain-Based Approach (June 03, 2020)
Fetal Alcohol / Neurobehavioural conditions (FA/NB) encompass the spectrum of brain-based conditions with a wide range of symptoms. This workshop establishes a research-informed foundation linking brain function with behaviours and introduces an emerging best practices approach to developing effective person-specific strategies in all settings.
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VIDEOS and MATERIALS
CanFASD - ”It’s Ignorant Stereotypes”: Stakeholder Recommendations to Improve Canadian Discussions About FASD
Dr. Sterling Clarren FASD Research Award winner John Aspler presents ”It’s Ignorant Stereotypes”: Stakeholder Recommendations to Improve Canadian Discussions About FASD.
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Global Health Conference Midwest 2017 - Nora Boesem: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorders: Whiteclay's Generational Epidemic for Pine Ridge
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Larissa Marie Downey - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) TVC
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Jill Crewes - FASD Webinar April 24 2020
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PreventFASD.info - Alcohol-exposed pregnancies risk Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Everyone knows we don’t feed alcohol to babies. But did you ever think where the alcohol goes when a pregnant woman has a drink? Is it worth the risk? In a world where we too often can’t control things, FASD is something we can do something about. We can create brighter futures.
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Whizbuzz Books - The Cycles of Nicholas : Inspired
A Memoir of Raising a Child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder. The Cycles of Nicholas is about finding peace as illustrated by the never-ending challenges of raising my disabled/ addicted son.
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CDC - FASDs: My Story
Real Stories from People living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.
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The FASD Success Show - Episode 20 - Brian Philcox The Ignorant FASD Philosopher
What an absolute honour to present to you on today’s podcast – Mr. Brian Philcox – affectionately known as “Grandpa Brian.”
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RESEARCH
Rhodes University - Discursive constructions of alcohol use and pregnancy among participants in intervention aimed at reducing Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.
South Africa’s socio-cultural and political history has had significant effects on maternal and reproductive health. The hazardous alcohol use patterns in the country have affected alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
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Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica - Folic acid supplement rescues ethanol-induced developmental defects in the zebrafish embryos
This research provides clues for elucidating the mechanism of fetal abnormalities caused by alcohol intake and for preventing FASD.
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Revista Brasileira de Saúde Materno Infantil - "Because of the baby": reduction on drug use during pregnancy
the spontaneous reduction in the consumption of PAS and after the interventions, pregnancy is a window of opportunity to reduce the use of drugs.
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BMJ - Alcohol, smoking, and other substance use in the perinatal period
Many women use substances during pregnancy. For example, the global prevalence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy is 9.8%.1 Moreover, 10.4% of pregnant women in England were known to be smoking tobacco at the time of delivery.
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PloS one - Caffeine, alcohol, khat, and tobacco use during pregnancy in Butajira, South Central Ethiopia
The study showed a considerable magnitude of substance use among pregnant women in the study area. Given this findings, we recommend, programs and services focusing on pregnant women to consider addressing substance use.
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ideaexchange.uakron.edu - Non-pharmacological Interventions for Alcohol, Marijuana, and Opioid Use During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review
The purpose of this review is to analyze evidence on prevalence of opioid, alcohol and marijuana use during pregnancy and answer the PICOT question: In pregnant women addicted to or using marijuana, opioids, and alcohol, how do non-pharmacological interventions, compared to standard care of pharmacological interventions alone, affect health outcomes in mothers and neonates between birth to hospital discharge?
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PloS one - Influences on drinking choices among Indigenous and non-Indigenous pregnant women in Australia: A qualitative study
Despite women’s awareness that drinking alcohol in pregnancy can lead to lifelong disabilities in a child, it appears that an awareness alone does not discourage some pregnant women from drinking.
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JAMA Netw Open - Association Between Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol and Tobacco and Neonatal Brain Activity
The findings suggest that any level of PAE or PTE is associated with newborn brain development, reaffirming the public health message that research has not yet determined a safe level of alcohol or tobacco use during pregnancy.
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Food and Chemical Toxicology - Prenatal ethanol exposure-induced hypothalamic an imbalance of glutamatergic/GABAergic projections and low functional expression in male offspring rats
Our study indicated that low functional expression of the hypothalamus in male PEE offspring rats was associated with developmental programming of an imbalance of glutamatergic/GABAergic projections to the PVN.
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NEUROSCIENCE HONORS PAPERS - Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Alters the Number, Not Distribution, of Corridor Cells at Embryonic Day 13.5
Sensory processing deficits, including under-responsiveness to sensory stimuli and disordered auditory processing, are common across FASDs.
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ACM DL - Toward the Design of Enjoyable Games for Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Based on our observations, we advise that games for FASD be designed to have low cost of failure, avoid retracting options, account for taking breaks when needed, show progression in rewards, and enable cooperative play.
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Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders - Hippocampal transcriptome analysis following maternal separation implicates altered RNA processing in a mouse model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Together, transcriptional control in the hippocampus is implicated as a potential underlying mechanism leading to anxiety-like behavior via environmental insults. Further research is required to elucidate the mechanism involved and use this insight towards early diagnosis and amelioration strategies involving children born with FASD.
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IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Accent (Sweden) - Samarbete för nationellt kompetenscentrum
”Vi har halkat efter våra grannländer”, säger Irma Kilim, drogpolitisk chef, IOGT-NTO, som ingår i en arbetsgrupp som vill se ett svenskt kompetenscentrum för alkohol kopplat till fosterskador.
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Reporter Cyprus (Cyprus) - Στοιχεία για τις εγκύους που καταναλώνουν αλκοόλ στην Κύπρο έδωσε ο υπ. Υγείας
Στοιχεία για τις εγκύους που καταναλώνουν αλκοόλ στην Κύπρο, έδωσε ο υπουργός Υγείας, με αφορμή ερώτηση για το Σύνδρομο Εμβρυϊκού Αλκοολισμού.
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