Pages

Sunday, November 17, 2024

FASD News - 46/2024

Saltwire (Canada) - GRANT FROST: Time for a task force on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
What condition affects one out of every 25 people in Nova Scotia? Which developmental disability has a higher incidence rate in our province than autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy combined?
Read more

University of Bristol (UK) - UK’s hidden disability: new codes to help thousands with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
People living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) — one of the most common yet under-recorded neurodevelopmental conditions worldwide — can now have the condition accurately recorded in their medical records thanks to new clinical codes.
Read more

MedicalNewsToday - Can doctors detect fetal alcohol syndrome on ultrasound?
Despite fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) developing in fetuses, doctors cannot reliably use ultrasound to diagnose the condition. Diagnosis only occurs after birth.
Read more

MedicalNewsToday - How do babies with fetal alcohol syndrome cry?
Babies with fetal alcohol syndrome do not appear to cry in a specific way. They can be irritable or jittery, but the most noticeable sign of the condition will be the shape of the baby’s face.
Read more

Todayville (Canada) - Red Deer RCMP recognized for work with young offenders with FASD
Members of the Red Deer RCMP’s Community Policing unit were honoured with the Central Alberta FASD Network’s 2021 FASD Champion Award last month.
Read more

DESTINATION FOR TEENS - What Happens When Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Become Adults?
When delving into the realm of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), it is crucial to grasp the fundamental aspects that define this condition, including its causes, risk factors, and prevalence in children.
Read more

 

VIDEOS and MATERIALS
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Stories of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders – Diagnosis
A series of stories and recommendations from individuals and families about their experience obtaining diagnoses of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs).
Read more

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Stories of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders – Support and Care
They also underscore the complexity of FASDs as lifelong conditions and call for accommodations, empathy, education, respect, and partnership in healthcare settings.
Read more

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Lived Experiences with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Rebecca
Rebecca struggled with health & academic issues due to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), which is linked to exposure to alcohol before birth. It wasn't until her mother read a pamphlet on FASDs that Rebecca pursued a diagnosis, which she finally received at 34.
Read more

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Stories of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders – Celebration and Resilience
Together, these stories highlight the importance of recognizing and building upon individual strengths, offer encouragement, and underscore the value of supportive communities.
Read more

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Stories of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders – Stigma
They highlight the challenges of living with an "invisible disability", the importance of compassionate care, and experiences of internalized stigma.
Read more

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Lived Experiences with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Patima and Rachel
Patima and her mother, Rachel, share their challenges getting a diagnosis of a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) for Patima due to lack of visible symptoms and medical history.
Read more

HNY Health and Care Partnership - Raising awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder FASD
As part of Baby Week, Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership hosted a webinar to raise awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
Read more

Patricia Kasper, Your FASD Coach - FASD & Addictions: a Candid Conversation with Shannon Butt
My Candid Conversation this week is a replay of my talk with Shannon Butt, one of the members of the Adult Leadership Collaborative (ALC) of the FASD Changemakers. As a member of the ALC, Shannon shares her story in the hopes of educating and encouraging others whose lives have been impacted by prenatal exposure to alcohol.
Read more

CAMH Professionals Videos - What we know about FASD: Prevention, Treatment and Support
Nancy Poole, Prevention Lead, CANFASD network explains how to talk to families about FASD and about FASD prevention.
Read more

Health Nexus Santé - Red Shoes Rock Ottawa - Health Nexus FASD Awareness Day 2024
Read more

FASD Hub Scotland and FASD Hub UK - Young People FASD conference
Read more

Interwoven Connections - Siblings of young people with FASD : What do siblings need?
In this video Dr. Maude Champagne discusses how we can better support the siblings of children with FASD, within our home and the unique challenges faced as a family, with practical techniques.
Read more

Neurodivergence Wales - Prof. Raja Mukherjee – Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): An Overview
Read more

FASD Hub Scotland and FASD Hub UK - Wednesday Webinar with Jacquie Pei
Read more

Alcohol Healthwatch - Anna Gundesen, FASD-CAN Navigator | Developing our Voices: FASD-CAN Individuals Development Program
Presented at the FASD Symposium, 25th and 26th September 2024, in Auckland, New Zealand
Read more

Lakeland Centre for FASD - I've Hired Someone with FASD, Now What
Read more

Justice For Orphans - Ep. 453 - FASD & Addictive Behaviors w/ Dr. Jerrod Brown
This week we welcome back returning guest, Dr. Jerrod Brown. Dr. Brown is a professor, trainer, researcher, and consultant with multiple years of experience teaching collegiate courses.
Read more

Golden Oldie Shower Records - METH the Musical: F.A.S.D
From the hit musical "METH". F.A.S.D is the breakout performance of Cynthia Foogsworth. Cynthia is praised for her commitment to her role in the musical, specifically giving birth live on stage during every performance. "METH" was performed over 15 years, with only 10 shows total.
Read more

Lisa Butcher - Let’s Start a Conversation - Original Song by Lisa Butcher
This song was created to raise awareness of the lifelong disability Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Many young people in the justice system have undiagnosed FASD and/or other neurodisabilities.
Read more

 

RESEARCH
Alcohol - Single essential oils and their binary mixtures protect against ethanol-induced defects in a zebrafish fetal alcohol spectrum disorder model at the same level as folic acid
This study evaluated protective effects of clove (SEO), thyme white (TEO), oregano (OEO), and caraway (CEO) essential oils (EOs), and their binary mixtures, in a zebrafish fetal alcohol spectrum disorder model.
Read more

Pedagogy in Health Promotion - Delivering Education Through a Podcast to Change Provider Practice: A Mixed Methods Evaluation of a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Podcast
Education delivered through podcasts can be effective in improving provider knowledge and self-efficacy and in promoting practice change. Podcasts offer broad reach and accessibility providing an opportunity to educate on topics including FASD.
Read more

helda.helsinki.fi - Early environmental effects on the placental epigenome and gene expression, and newborns’ phenotype : Focusing on prenatal alcohol exposure and Assisted Reproductive Technology
To clarify the etiology of adverse health outcomes mediated by the prenatal environment, this thesis focused on two prevalent and socially significant, but rather distinct environmental factors, prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and assisted reproductive technology (ART).
Read more

Bratislavske lekarske listy - Risk factors for self-reported alcohol consumption during pregnancy
In accordance with certain European data, the best means of protection against alcohol consumption during pregnancy include complete abstinence prior to conception, pregnancy planning, and high-quality education regarding the negative effects of alcohol during pregnancy (Tab. 4, Ref. 19).
Read more

Rivista do psichiatria - Italian Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: structural abnormalities
Timely diagnosis and intervention are crucial as they can significantly enhance outcomes through appropriate support and management strategies. Increasing awareness among citizens about the detrimental effects of alcohol use disorders on newborn health is of utmost importance.
Read more

Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research - Prenatal alcohol exposure and health at midlife: Self-reported health outcomes in two cohorts
Patients affected by alcohol may report greater frequency and range of health adversity. That PAE was only uniquely associated with a limited set of problems suggests that many health outcomes in midlife result from an initial vulnerability potentiated by postnatal stress resulting from other associated factors.
Read more

IBRO Neuroscience Reports - Transgenerational of Oxidative Damage Induced by Prenatal Ethanol Exposure on Spatial Learning/Memory and BDNF in the of Male Rats
The findings underscore the role of OS in developmental and behavioral issues in FASD rat models and suggest that lasting transgenerational effects in the second generation may stem from alcohol-induced changes.
Read more

PrePrints - What Do We Know About Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy and Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Nigeria?
Despite limited empirical evidence, anecdotal reports suggest that alcohol consumption during pregnancy is not uncommon in Nigeria, driven by factors such as social norms, lack of awareness, and limited access to prenatal care and education.
Read more

Alcohol, clinical & Experimental Research - Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and child development: Role of ADH1B and ALDH2 gene polymorphisms-The Yamanashi Adjunct Study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study
Our results suggest that alcohol consumption by pregnant females carrying the deficient variant ALDH2*2 genotype may increase the risk of developmental delay in their offspring.
Read more

Archives of Women's Mental Health - Severe alcohol withdrawal during pregnancy or early postpartum: maternal and fetal outcomes
The findings highlight the severe implications of AWS during pregnancy, impacting both maternal and fetal health. The severity of AWS requires attentive clinical management and preventative interventions.
Read more

International Journal of Molecular Sciences - Prenatal Opioid and Alcohol Exposures: Association with Altered Placental Serotonin Transporter Structure and/or Expression
Fetal exposures to many drugs of abuse, e.g., opioids and alcohol (EtOH), are associated with adverse neurodevelopmental problems in early childhood, including abnormalities in activity of the serotonin (5HT) transporter (SERT), which transports 5HT across the placenta.
Read more

Authorea - Prenatal alcohol use or smoking and their effect on fetal growth, stratified by dose, timing and single or dual use: a prospective cohort study.
Dual exposure to smoking and drinking (even low) reduces fetal growth.
Read more

AIDS - Substance use during pregnancy and postpartum among individuals with perinatally-acquired HIV in the United States
Use of cannabis and alcohol were common during pregnancy and the first year postpartum among people with HIV in the United States (2007–2019), but there were no major differences in substance use during pregnancy based on mode of HIV acquisition.
Read more

 

IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Miasto Kraków (Poland) - Mamo, nie ryzykuj! Kraków edukuje o FASD i stawia na profilaktykę
Kraków zainaugurował kampanię społeczną skierowaną do kobiet w ciąży i osób z ich najbliższego otoczenia. Jej adresatami są też uczennice i uczniowie krakowskich szkół oraz studentki i studenci. Kampania ma uświadomić, że nie ma bezpiecznej dawki alkoholu, którą może wypić kobieta w ciąży.
Read more

Chaos im Kopf Podcast - Dein FASD Podcast (Germany) - FASD Selbsthilfegruppe Porta Westfalica C75
In dieser Episode des Podcasts "Chaos im Kopf" spricht Wolfgang mit Anne-Meike Südmeyer und Birte Schilling über die FASD Selbsthilfegruppe Porta Westfalica.
Read more

NeuronUp (France) - Consommation d’alcool pendant la grossesse : effets sur le cerveau fœtal et risque de handicap intellectual
Rafael A. Salas Muriel, docteur en psychologie, expose dans cet article comment la consommation d’alcool pendant la grossesse peut affecter le cerveau fœtal en augmentant le risque de handicap intellectuel.
Read more

Kehitysvammaliitto (Finland) - FASD ja aikuisuus
Kehitysvammaliiton tuottama podcast-sarja käsittelee elämää FASDin kanssa eri näkökulmista. Kuulemme elämän kompastuskivistä ja huippuhetkistä sekä siitä, miten FASDin tuomia haasteita on taklattu.
Read more

FAS Portalen (Sweden) - Rekordstort intresse för Fokus FAS
Intresset för den tredje konferensen Fokus FAS om alkohol- och drogrelaterade fosterskador var stort, med över 200 deltagare.
Read more

Friday, November 15, 2024

Alcohol News - 46/2024

NordAN (Finland) - Anxiety and binge drinking among youth remain prevalent – alcohol is increasingly purchased online
Over the past decade, young people’s mental health issues have increased, while alcohol use has decreased. However, the downward trend in underage drinking seems to be slowing and may even be stabilizing in some cases.
Read more

Keck Medicine of USC (USA) - Pandemic-era increase in alcohol use persists
Study finds that heavy drinking among adult Americans increased more than 20% during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and continued for the following two years
Read more

SciTechDaily - Drinking and Dementia: New Study Shows Alcohol May Accelerate Alzheimer’s
New research from Scripps Research links Alzheimer’s disease and alcohol use disorder, showing similar gene expression changes in the brain that impact inflammation and cell function.
Read more

Times of India (India) - The rising toll of alcohol addiction in Goa: A sobering reality
Goa’s reputation for its sun-drenched beaches and lively festivals has long attracted revellers from across the globe. Known for its bustling tourism scene and laid-back lifestyle, Goa embodies a culture of celebration.
Read more

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia) - Facebook targeting vulnerable people with gambling and alcohol advertising
A study by University of Queensland has found that gambling and alcohol ads are being served up many times in a short period to people at high risk of gambling or alcohol-related harms.
Read more

HealthandCare.Scot (Scotland) - Scotland can lead gender tailored alcohol policy
A Glasgow researcher leading a landmark World Health Organization (WHO) policy initiative is now calling on public health services across the world to recognise that the impact, experience and stigma of alcohol problems are different for men and women.
Read more

WHO Europe - Empowering public health advocates to navigate alcohol policy challenges: alcohol policy playbook
Developed by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the Alcohol policy playbook is designed for policy-makers, advocates and public health professionals.
Read more

IAS Blog - How does alcohol affect the brain?
Do you know how alcohol interacts with the brain? And did you know that heavy episodic drinking as an adolescent is one of the strongest risk factors for developing early onset dementia?
Read more

OSF Healthcare - The cancer-causing cocktail
If you’re looking for more reasons to switch from cocktails to mocktails, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)’s newest study may encourage you to embrace sobriety.
Read more

The Microbiologist - Scientists reveal significant burden of liver cancer attributable to hepatitis B and alcohol globally
Liver cancer is a digestive system malignancy that poses a significant public health challenge globally. This study, published in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology, aimed to analyze and compare the epidemiological trends of liver cancer attributed to hepatitis B (LCHB) and alcohol use (LCAL) over the past 32 years.
Read more

Iceland Review (Iceland) - Consensus on Nicotine Pouches, Disagreement on Alcohol Sales
All political parties that responded to questions from anti-addiction organisations agreed on the need to curb nicotine pouch use among children and adolescents. However, only the Independence Party and the Liberal Reform Party supported dissolving the State Alcohol and Tobacco Company (ÁTVR) and allowing alcohol sales in general retail stores.
Read more

NordAN - NordAN 2024 conference and General Assembly emphasize transparency and Nordic-Baltic collaboration
The NordAN 2024 conference, held in Oslo on November 7-8, brought together experts and advocates from across the Nordic and Baltic regions to discuss key issues in alcohol and drug policy.
Read more

NordAN - NordAN General Assembly resolution calls for Nordic and Baltic leadership to redefine WHO’s engagement with the alcohol industry
At the 2024 NordAN General Assembly in Oslo on November 7, a critical resolution was adopted, urging Nordic and Baltic member states to lead in securing transparency and accountability in global alcohol policy.
Read more

Alcohol Awareness - Can We Be Serious Now?
The #CanWeBeSeriousNow campaign targets EU policy-makers with a clear message: health-harming industries—such as those producing alcohol, tobacco, and unhealthy foods and drinks—prioritize sales and profits over public health.
Read more

Alcohol And Cancer (Netherlands) - Socioeconomic status and cancer survival in the Netherlands: new insights from IKNL report
A new report from the Integraal Kankercentrum Nederland (IKNL) has highlighted stark socioeconomic disparities in cancer outcomes across the Netherlands.
Read more

Friday, November 1, 2024

Alcohol News - 44/2024

NordAN (Norway) - Nine out of ten elderly people report that their doctor does not discuss how alcohol affects health as we age
Most people aged 60-80 consume alcohol, yet many are unaware that their bodies tolerate alcohol less effectively as they get older. Ninety percent of people over 70 take medication, which, when combined with alcohol, can pose health risks.
Read more

THL (Finland) - High-risk alcohol use is still common, although total consumption has decreased
Although the total consumption of alcohol in Finland has decreased from 2008, risky drinking is still common. Of those aged 20–79, 11% or 450,000 people were in the moderate or high-risk group for long-term alcohol-related harm.
Read more

Euronews (Scotland) - Scotland curbed alcohol deaths by raising prices on cheap booze. Will Europe follow suit?
Scotland saved lives by raising prices on cheap supermarket alcohol, but the policy isn’t a silver-bullet solution.
Read more

The Kyiv Independent (Ukraine) - Ukraine expands long-range drone strikes target list, alcohol now on the menu
"Russian military aviation cannot function without alcohol," Andrii Kovalenko, head of the counter-disinformation department at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said in a post on social media.
Read more

Psychology Today - Recent research indicates drinking any alcohol could increase dementia risk
Is it unsafe to drink any alcohol? A new study indicates any drinking may cause dementia, which scares a lot of people. This study jars the belief that light to moderate drinking could provide cognitive benefits.
Read more

PsyPost - Reflecting on calorie consumption from past drinking lowers desire for alcohol in women
A recent study published in Food Quality and Preference explored how recalling a past drinking experience may influence future alcohol consumption desires in women.
Read more

NZ Herald (New Zealand) - Alcohol licence opposed for charity fashion show supporting suicide prevention in Dunedin
A special licence application for a charity fashion show, intended to raise funds for suicide prevention and mental health awareness, has been met with opposition days before it takes place.
Read more

Medical Xpress - Echoes of youth: High school binge drinking found to predict midlife alcohol use with women most affected
The high school party days never really ended for a surprising number of middle-aged adults. A University of Michigan study reveals that adults aged 35 to 60 are drinking at unprecedented rates, with a striking link between high school binge drinking and risky midlife alcohol consumption.
Read more

Politics Home (UK) - The Budget Is A "Critical Moment" For Drug And Alcohol Rehab Services
The UK's largest provider of drug and alcohol treatment services has described the Budget as a "critical moment" for the sector with any reduction in funding risking an "unravelling" of rehabilitation provision.
Read more

VoxDev (South Africa) - What happened to violence, crime and mortality when South Africa banned alcohol?
A nationwide alcohol ban in South Africa reduced violent crime and injury-related deaths, offering critical lessons for public policy.
Read more

Alcohol Change (UK) - Budget action on alcohol harm is an open goal – will Government take the shot?
This week’s IPPR poll suggests voters want the Government to prioritise fixing public services over balancing the books.
Read more

ADF (Australia) - New report spotlights increasing alcohol and other drug harms in older Australians
The serious and increasing levels of harm older Australians face from alcohol and other drugs can no longer be ignored, a new Alcohol and Drug Foundation report released today has shown.
Read more

VeryWell Health - Is It time to Add Cancer-Specific Warning Labels to Alcohol?
Could adding cancer-specific warning labels to alcoholic beverages help deter excessive alcohol consumption? That’s an idea raised by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), whose most recent report highlights that many people are unaware alcohol increases the risk of certain cancers.
Read more

PopNAD (Finland) - Alcohol’s hidden costs: Can we afford this burden?
Alcohol is a major contributor to premature deaths across Finland and Europe. While much of the focus often lies on deaths directly caused by alcohol, these represent just the tip of the iceberg.
Read more

ERR News (Estonia) - City of Tallinn: Proving alcohol sales during restricted hours near impossible
Tallinn City Council wants all alcohol retailers in the Estonian capital to install cash registers which enable them to prove compliance with late night sales restrictions.
Read more

NordAN (Sweden) - Young people skeptical of parents offering alcohol
Young people believe that those who are allowed to taste alcohol at home during their teenage years develop a more relaxed attitude toward alcohol.
Read more

Friday, October 25, 2024

Alcohol News - 43/2024

MedCentral (USA) - As Alcohol Consumption Risks Rise, New Guidelines Loom
Updated every 5 years, the guidelines – which include everything from infant nutrition to adult sodium intake – are set by the US Department of Agriculture and the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Read more

Financial Times (UK) - Fewer than a quarter of UK workers want alcohol at social events, study finds
Only one in four UK employees want alcohol at workplace social events while little more than half attend after-hours events owing to travel time and family duties, according to research that signals the end of the boozy Christmas party.
Read more

ScienceAlert - Alcohol Can Trigger Serious Cardiac Effects in Young People
Excessive alcohol intake can mess up the normal rhythm of the heart and bring on cardiac arrhythmias, a new study shows – adding to concerns about the negative health impacts of binge drinking.
Read more

The Conversation - The effects of binge drinking on teenagers’ brain development
Alcohol is deeply rooted in our cultures and habits, and in most Western countries, its significant economic weight grants it a much more favourable legal status and social perception than other drugs.
Read more

Kyiv Post (Ukraine) - Ukraine Reportedly Strikes 4 Alcohol Distilleries in Russia in Drone Attacks
Ukrainian drones struck two alcohol distilleries in the Tula region, one in the Tambov region, and an industrial facility in the Voronezh region in an overnight attack Oct. 21-22, Russian officials and media reported.
Read more

Stuff (New Zealand) - Calls increase for tougher booze rules
Health experts are calling on councils to set tougher restrictions on alcohol sales to reduce potential harm, including cutting the hours that booze can be sold.
Read more

IAS Blog - How can we improve public understanding that alcohol can cause cancer?
Understanding among the British public that alcohol can cause cancer is worryingly low. Surveys periodically show very low percentages of people recognising the danger of alcohol in relation to cancer, including breast and bowel cancer, despite well-established research showing this link clearly.
Read more

Alcohol Action Ireland (Ireland) - Minimum Unit Pricing for alcohol – an opportunity to save lives across the island of Ireland
Alcohol Action Ireland warmly welcomes reports that Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) looks set to be introduced in Northern Ireland. MUP is an evidence-based public health measure which provides a floor price beneath which alcohol cannot be sold. It was introduced in Ireland in January 2022 and is also in place in Scotland and Wales.
Read more

The ASCO Post  - Raising Awareness of the Health Consequences of Alcohol Consumption During and After a Cancer Diagnosis
In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that “no level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health.” The warning came decades after the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, which is the highest risk group, and also includes asbestos, radiation, and tobacco.
Read more

Women´s Health - The Lies We’ve Been Told About Alcohol
It took only seven years for cigarette sales to dip after the U.S. Public Health Service’s first public acknowledgment that smoking causes cancer. Drinking alcohol causes cancer, too, and we’ve known that for at least 37 years, since the World Health Organization (WHO) first published findings in 1987. Yet sales remain strong: In 2023, the alcohol market hit $37.7 billion.
Read more

NordAN (Greenland) - Greenlandic MP urges retailers to stop alcohol advertising
According to a recent report by Sermitsiaq.gl, Greenland MP Aaja Chemnitz is urging retailers to stop alcohol advertising, citing its connection to violent crime. Chemnitz’s comments come as Greenland is in the process of drafting a new alcohol policy, with discussions on potential restrictions and preventive measures to reduce alcohol-related harm in the country.
Read more

Alcohol Awareness - Alcohol and Breast Cancer: What are the risks?
October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an important time to highlight the various factors contributing to breast cancer risk, including alcohol consumption.
Read more

Sunday, October 20, 2024

FASD News - 42/2024

The Conversation - We shouldn’t lock up young offenders with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Here are the alternatives
Barely a month goes by without news of children and adolescents who are imprisoned and being mistreated in youth detention.
Read more

Neuroscience News - Early Alcohol Exposure Leaves Molecular Signature in Fetal Placenta
A recent study shows that alcohol exposure in the earliest stages of pregnancy can lead to detectable molecular changes in the late-gestation placenta, even influencing gene expression through DNA methylation.
Read more

News-Medical - Alcohol's effects on embryo development detected in late-gestation placenta
A new study led by Pr. Serge McGraw, researcher at CHU Sainte-Justine and professor at Université de Montréal, shows that the effects of alcohol exposure on an embryo prior to implantation in the uterus can be detected in the late-gestation placenta.
Read more

FASD United - Addressing the Recommended Changes to FASD Diagnosis Published in The Lancet
An article by a group of developmental pediatricians in Canada published this fall in the pediatric journal The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health raises major concerns about the use of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) as a diagnostic term.
Read more

CanFASD (Canada) - New Brunswick study improving the path to referral for a FASD diagnosis for youth
Concerns about the long and challenging road to a referral for an FASD diagnosis has inspired a New Brunswick research study.
Read more

WKBN27 (USA) - FASD Is My Superpower: Helping Kids Understand the Strength of Their Diagnosis Sets to Break Barriers
Author Emily Hargrove opens a new chapter of empowerment with her latest book, FASD Is My Superpower, dedicated to all Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) superheroes.
Read more

CHU Sainte-Justine - Effects of exposure to alcohol in early pregnancy can be detected in the placenta
A new study led by Pr. Serge McGraw, researcher at CHU Sainte-Justine and professor at Université de Montréal, shows that the effects of alcohol exposure on an embryo prior to implantation in the uterus can be detected in the late-gestation placenta.
Read more

 

VIDEOS and MATERIALS
Angela Geddes | Integrative Support & Wellness - EPISODE #91: It’s Complicated; Stigma and FASD
In this podcast episode, Angela tackles a significant issue surrounding the term "FASD" (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) and whether the name itself contributes to the stigma faced by many who experience misdiagnosis and misunderstanding.
Read more

Rogers tv Community Shorts - FASD Learning Strategies for Children
Kaitlyn Rebmann, FASD Instructional Coach presents "adjusting expectations when working with individuals with FASD."
Read more

Rural FASD Support Network - Jessica Danielle, CDA of Wellington Kids
Jessica Danielle, CDA shares how why communication and AAC is so important for children living with FASD and the key is early intervention.
Read more

Wisdom for health - Alcohol in Pregnancy Risks Explained
Read more

NDARC UNSW - Maternal use of NRT during pregnancy unlikely to increase the risk of birth defects in babies
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), varenicline and bupropion are common quit smoking medicines; however, we do not know whether they are safe to use during pregnancy. This international study analysed health data from New Zealand, Australia (New South Wales), Norway, and Sweden to understand whether these medicines increased the risk of major birth defects in early pregnancy.
Read more

 

RESEARCH
International Journal of Law and Psychiatry - Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and the criminal justice system: A guide for legal professionals
This article is intended to provide valuable information and best practices for professionals in the legal system, particularly judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, social workers/mitigation specialists, and psychologists, who are likely to encounter individuals living with FASD or suspected FASD early in the judicial process.
Read more

BMC Medicine - Prenatal alcohol exposure and associations with physical size, dysmorphology and neurodevelopment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
This comprehensive review provides guidance on which components are most useful to consider in the diagnostic criteria for FASD.
Read more

International Social Work - Using living experience and practitioner research to create unique programmes providing help for caregivers, professionals and students to increase support for children living with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
In this article, I draw on my intersectional identities as a caregiver of a child with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, as a registered social worker with extensive experience in the justice sector, and as an employed educator and researcher at a tertiary institute, to explore how I have used these multiple identities to create new initiatives that support families where Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is an issue, and introduce critical disability training for professionals working in the field.
Read more

Nutrients - Exploring Nutritional Status and Metabolic Imbalances in Children with FASD: A Cross-Sectional Study
These findings suggest that the principal issue among patients with FASD is an altered metabolism rather than nutritional deficiencies. Potential causes of these abnormalities could include oxidative stress and changes in body composition.
Read more

Military Medicine - Mapping the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Continuum of Care Across the Military Health System
Findings suggest opportunities to raise awareness, educate providers, and improve guidelines, policies, and practices in the MHS.
Read more

Journal of Public Child Welfare - Foster parents’ need for greater information sharing when caring for children with prenatal substance exposure within child welfare
This article presents information on how the child welfare (CW) system informs caregivers about prenatal substance exposure (PSE) and related concerns, and how those caregivers communicate back to CW about PSE issues.
Read more

CNS drugs - The Safety of Alcohol Pharmacotherapies in Pregnancy: A Scoping Review of Human and Animal Research
There is insufficient research on the safety of alcohol pharmacotherapies in pregnancy. Despite this, given alcohol’s teratogenic effects, naltrexone could be considered to help maintain abstinence in pregnant individuals with AUD, particularly when psychosocial treatments have failed.
Read more

 

IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Hogrefe eContent (Germany) - Fetale Alkoholspektrumstörungen – ein wichtiges Thema für die Suchtmedizin?
Im folgenden Artikel geben wir Ihnen einen Überblick über Pathophysiologie, Screening, Diagnose, Therapie und Prognose bei Kindern und Jugendlichen mit Fetalen Alkoholspektrumstörungen (FASD).
Read more

Hogrefe eContent (Germany) - Fetale Alkoholspektrumstörungen bei Erwachsenen
Mit einer geschätzten Prävalenz von 1 bis 2 pro 100 Personen sind Fetale Alkoholspektrumstörungen (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders [FASD]) in Europa häufig und verbunden mit einer hohen Belastung für Menschen mit FASD, deren Angehörige sowie die Gesellschaft.
Read more

WDR (Germany) - FASD-Syndrom: Wenn die Mutter in der Schwangerschaft Alkohol trinkt
Luise und Clara sind Zwillinge und haben beide das Fetale Alkoholsyndrom, auch FASD genannt. Ihre Mutter war Alkoholikerin. Beide kommen viel zu früh auf die Welt, wachsen bei Pflegeeltern auf. Lange Zeit ist nicht klar, ob sie einen normalen Lebens- oder Berufsweg einschlagen können.
Read more

Welt (Germany) - Diagnose FASD – Alkohol in der Schwangerschaft und die Folgen
Studien gehen davon aus, dass etwa jede vierte Frau in Deutschland Alkohol trinkt, während sie schwanger ist. Ab welcher Menge schadet Alkohol dem Ungeborenen?
Read more

Friday, October 18, 2024

Alcohol News - 42/2024

The Conversation (Australia) - Cheap grog, new drunkenness offence and mandatory rehab: why 9 experts think proposed NT alcohol reforms would be a disaster
The new Northern Territory government is planning a swathe of changes to alcohol policy. If implemented, these changes fly in the face of what evidence shows works to reduce alcohol-related harms. Some are also out of step with the rest of Australia.
Read more

News-Medical - Research reveals misleading practices in alcohol industry apps
Alcohol industry-funded apps may use covert 'misinformation strategies', omit important public health information and could 'nudge' users towards drinking more alcohol, new research has found.
Read more

BBC (Northern Ireland) - Minimum alcohol pricing looks set to be introduced in NI
Minimum pricing for alcohol looks set to be introduced in Northern Ireland. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt is seeking the backing of his executive colleagues to bring the legislation to the assembly.
Read more

TVP World (Poland) - Polish e-commerce giant stops alcohol sale scheme, amid crackdown on ‘alco-tubes’
Poland’s e-commerce group Allegro has suspended its scheme for the online sale of alcohol, amid a crackdown on controversial alcohol products.
Read more

RNZ (New Zealand) - Alcohol-related suicides higher risk for Māori and Pacific women – study
Researchers are calling for more kaupapa Māori targeted public health interventions, after a study found Māori and Pacific women are disproportionately affected by suicide involving heavy alcohol use.
Read more

IAS Blog - How can genetics help assess the potential harms of moderate drinking?
Is drinking a moderate amount of alcohol bad for you? Answering questions about potential causal effects in humans is difficult. If you want to know what factors affect the lifespan of a lightbulb, your task is simple: get a few hundred lightbulbs, and start experimenting.
Read more

Insight - Journal article - Zero alcohol products and adolescents: A tool for harm reduction or a trojan horse?
A recent Australian study is featured in the international journal Appetite exploring zero alcohol products (ZAPs). ZAPs may help reduce alcohol-related harm by offering an alternative to alcoholic drinks, but concerns exist that they could expose young people to alcohol-related stimuli, potentially normalising alcohol use and acting as a gateway to underage drinking.
Read more

Alcohol Change (UK) - Continued decline in youth drinking no cause for complacency
NHS England has today (17 October 2024) published new data on smoking, drinking, and drug use among secondary school pupils in England for 2023.
Read more

Royal Society Te Apārangi - Alcohol causes cancer: more awareness and action needed in Aotearoa – Report
A new factsheet 'Ka Hua Mai Te Mate Pukupuku I Te Inu Waipiro – Alcohol Causes Cancer' by Royal Society Te Apārangi compiles the evidence of alcohol causing cancer from an Aotearoa New Zealand perspective and is calling for greater awareness and action to address the issue.
Read more

NordAN (Finland) - Changes to alcohol legislation increase the risk of illicit trade
In Finland, efforts to reduce alcohol-related harms have primarily focused on the retail monopoly on alcoholic beverages, a strict licensing system, and effective oversight by authorities.
Read more

Alcohol Awareness (Denmark) - One more beer can’t hurt, right? Or can it…
A recent report by Kræftens Bekæmpelse (Danish Cancer Society) and TrygFonden highlights how Denmark’s youth alcohol culture can be exclusionary and damaging to social interactions.
Read more

Alcohol and Cancer - Global efforts to highlight alcohol's role in cancer prevention
In recent years, the link between alcohol and cancer has gained more traction in global public health discussions. While this connection is not new, the work of several organizations has helped bring it into sharper focus.
Read more

Friday, October 11, 2024

Alcohol News - 41/2024

RCP London (UK) - Confronting alcohol harm and tackling inequalities: guest blog post from the Alcohol Health Alliance
In this piece Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, chair of the AHA, explores the record rise in alcohol-related harm in the UK, highlighting health inequalities and calling for urgent, evidence-based policy action.
Read more

Harvard Gazette - ‘Heartbreaking’ encounter inspired long view on alcohol
The woman came in crying. She was disheveled and pregnant, and appeared to be intoxicated. She had a 5-year-old girl in tow and was looking for help from the crisis center where Anna Shchetinina volunteered.
Read more

Guardian (UK) - England urged to bring in minimum unit price on alcohol as deaths rise 10% a year
Ministers are facing pressure to ­introduce minimum unit pricing for alcohol after Lord Darzi’s investigation into the NHS highlighted the “alarming” death toll in England caused by cheap drink.
Read more

The Conversation (Australia) - We shouldn’t lock up young offenders with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Here are the alternatives
Barely a month goes by without news of children and adolescents who are imprisoned and being mistreated in youth detention.
Read more

Tax Foundation (Brazil) - Brazil Proposes Major Overhaul of Its Alcohol Tax System
The Brazilian government is poised to make the biggest change to its alcohol tax policy in recent history.
Read more

CTV News (Canada) - 'Sober curious': Younger Canadians turning away from alcohol, data says
According to a survey on recent alcohol consumption, younger Canadians are more likely to have not had a drink in the past week.
Read more

The New York Times - What, Exactly, Is ‘Moderate Drinking’?
While the specifics remain unsettled, there is one thing most experts have come to agree on. “Less is more; less is better,” Dr. Stockwell said. “Drink less; live longer.”
Read more

Neuroscience News - Early Alcohol Exposure Leaves Molecular Signature in Fetal Placenta
A recent study shows that alcohol exposure in the earliest stages of pregnancy can lead to detectable molecular changes in the late-gestation placenta, even influencing gene expression through DNA methylation.
Read more

BusinessTech (South Africa) - Big changes to drinking laws in South Africa still coming
Major stakeholders and government departments believe alcohol laws and the legal drinking age need to change in South Africa, and these amendments are still being considered under the Liquor Amendment Bill.
Read more

IAS Blog (UK) - Alcohol trade groups mislead Prime Minister on duty ‘increase’, putting revenue – and lives – at risk
In numerous newspaper articles, interviews, and social media posts, both the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) and the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) have claimed that the ‘increase’ in alcohol duty rates last August led to the Treasury losing revenue.
Read more

WCRF - Alcohol causes cancer – so how can we galvanise governments to act?
How should sales of alcohol be regulated? How can we make more people aware of the risk of cancer from drinking alcohol? Kendra Chow, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, and Kate Oldridge-Turner, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, investigate.
Read more

NordAN (Finland) - Finnish Government proposes allowing alcohol home delivery and online sales
The Finnish government has introduced a legislative proposal to amend the Alcohol Act, which would allow the delivery of alcoholic beverages directly to consumers. If passed, this change would enable the home delivery of alcohol and online sales, expanding options for purchasing alcohol in Finland.
Read more

Yale School of Public Health (USA) - Report examines impact of alcohol, drug, and firearm deaths on life expectancy in the U.S.
A new report from the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) Research and Action Institute, co-authored by Dr. Megan L. Ranney, dean of the Yale School of Public Health, examines how alcohol, drug, and firearm deaths have lowered life expectancy in the United States and contributed to a widening gap in life expectancy between the U.S. and other high-income countries.
Read more

NordAN (Sweden/Latvia) - NordAN's contributions to EU TRIS notifications: balancing public health and EU regulations
NordAN has recently submitted two contributions to the EU's TRIS notification system regarding proposed amendments to alcohol legislation in Sweden and Latvia, highlighting critical concerns.
Read more

Sweden Herald (Sweden) - Portugal opposes Swedish farm sales
Portugal has at the last minute submitted comments on the government's proposal to allow farm sales of alcohol. This means that it will take some time before the bill can get the green light from the EU.
Read more

NordAN (Denmark) - Danish experts warn government: cuts to substance research will have devastating consequences
Nineteen leading figures in Denmark's social sector, including NordAN board member Morten Skov Mogensen, have issued a stark warning to the government over proposed budget cuts to the Center for Substance Research (CRF).
Read more