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Monday, October 28, 2013

Alcohol News - 43/2013

USA TODAY (USA) - Police, experts: Alcohol most common in sexual assaults
Date rape drugs. Roofies. Liquid ecstasy. Special K. Odorless, colorless, tasteless predators that leave prey weak, confused and vulnerable. They are part of the standard plotline in many television thrillers, and a mythology has built around their pervasiveness.
BBC (Scotland/Estonia) - Alex Neil to address Estonian conference on alcohol
Scotland's health secretary Alex Neil will travel to Estonia this week to address a conference on alcohol.
The Chronicle of Social Change (USA) - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in America, Pt. 4: Educating Students with FASD
Individuals with FASD may have problems that affect learning and behavior. Therefore, it is important that we understand how alcohol impacts neurodevelopment throughout the lifespan of individuals affected.
Journal of Turkish Weekly (Turkey) - Deputy PM claims no ban on alcohol in Turkey
Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan has noted the impossibility of enacting bans on alcohol, noting their failure during Ottoman times, while claiming recent restrictions on drinks do not amount to a prohibition.
ABC News (USA) - New Women Alcoholics: 'Looking at Red Wine Like It's Chocolate'
Ann Dowsett Johnston vowed she would never be like her mother, a "poster girl" for alcoholism, who drank during the day and mixed her cocktails with Valium.
aidsmap - Social problems and drug and alcohol problems common among people who develop AIDS despite long-term HIV care
Psychiatric, drug, alcohol and social care problems are highly prevalent among people who develop serious AIDS-defining illnesses well after their diagnosis with HIV, UK research published in Sexually Transmitted Infections shows.
RTE.ie (Ireland) - Government to set minimum prices for alcoholic drinks
The Government is to curb the advertising of alcohol and set minimum prices for drinks based on their alcohol content in a new Public Health Bill.
Russia Beyond The Headlines (Russia) - Booze, alkie, half-liter: A Russian dictionary of alcohol
Arguably, the word “to drink” has more synonyms than any other in Russian. “To yank,” “to nip,” “to cut into,” “to knock back.” – all these verbs, and many others, are used in Russian to refer to the process of consuming alcohol.
Science Daily (Finland) - Excessive Alcohol Consumption Increases Progression of Atherosclerosis, Risk of Stroke
A Finnish population-based study showed that binge drinking was associated with increased atherosclerotic progression in an 11-year follow-up of middle-aged men. The progression of atherosclerosis was increased among men who consumed 6 drinks or more on one occasion. In addition, the risk of stroke increased among men who had at least one hangover per year.
Irish Times (Ireland) - Broad welcome for minimum pricing for alcohol but regret at U-turn on sports sponsorship
There has been a broad welcome for the Government’s measures aimed at tackling alcohol abuse, although health campaigners criticised the failure to include a prohibition on alcohol companies sponsoring sporting events, while the drinks industry itself questioned the legality of minimum pricing.
PR Web - New Research from Mount Sinai on Alcohol Could Spur Development of Antidote
Scientists now understand how alcohol alters the activity of brain proteins. Ethanol, the alcohol found in beer, wine, and spirits, impairs communication between nerve cells in the brain, affecting our perception and behavior.
The Conversation - Recruiting government advisers to alcohol lobby is too easy
The appointment of senior civil servant David Frost as Chief Executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, one of the alcohol industry’s most aggressive lobby groups, is just the latest high profile case of the revolving door between government advisers and large corporations.
ForUm (Ukraine) - Parliament proposed to ban advertising of alcohol and tobacco products
During the meeting the Parliamentary Committee for European Integration approved the draft law "On amendments to Article 22 of the law of Ukraine on advertising"(regarding the prohibition of alcohol, low-alcohol beverages, beer, tobacco products and brands)", ForUm correspondent reports.
Scotsman (Scotland) - Destroying our health is big business
We should put the interests of the public before those of the companies who sell us drink, cigarettes and bad food, says Evelyn Gillan.

Monday, October 21, 2013

Alcohol News - 42/2013

NordAN (Lithuania) - Lithuania is returning to advertising ban idea?
Minister of Health Vytenis Andriukaitis has proposed and registered new amendments to the Law on Alcohol Control, which would impose much stricter limits for alcohol advertising. These amendments would ban all outdoor advertising as well as advertising in print media and internet.
NPR (USA) - Drinking To 'Numb,' Women Gain On Men In Alcohol Abuse
Carrie Bradshaw and her rounds of cosmopolitans; Bridget Jones with her glasses of chardonnay; Chelsea Handler declaring her passion for vodka. In sitcoms, rom-coms and comedy shows, female boozers are the stuff of jokes. They suffer through hangovers, complain about their bar bills, promise to cut back and then cheerfully renege.
Sky News (UK) - Alcohol Poll: Half Of Kids See Parents Drunk
Almost half of 10 to 14-year-olds have seen their parents drunk, according to new research. A survey by the industry-funded charity Drinkaware found 46% had seen their parents drunk, with 29% saying they had seen it on more than one occasion.
B&T Marketing & Media (Australia) - Aussies want to kick alcohol out of sport
Alcohol advertising is in the firing line as research reveals 67.2% of Australians believe alcohol sponsorship should be phased out of sport.
Arutz Sheva (Israel) - Alcohol Importer's Woes Could Mean a 'Dry' Israel
Israel could soon become “dry,” in the Prohibition sense of the word. Not because of any new Knesset laws against selling alcohol – but because the largest importer, and for many brands the sole importer of alcohol, is broke.
Herald Scotland (Scotland) - Call for laws on alcohol sales to be streamlined
SCOTLAND'S alcohol sales laws are too complex, overburdened with red tape and in need of streamlining, according to a Government consultation.
The Guardian (UK) - Public health teams are overlooking middle-class alcohol dependency
Since the responsibility for managing public health transferred from the NHS to local authorities just a few short months ago, councils have been slugging it out to the win the battle of whizziest, most original new idea.
Medical Daily - Music Makes Women Drink Faster By Obscuring The Strength Of Alcohol
In a series of related studies, researchers explored how environment affects perceptions of alcohol and drinking behavior. When music is playing, wine tastes sweeter, women drink faster, and both men and women are less able to gauge the strength of their drinks.
The Japan Daily Press (Japan) - Japanese lawmakers submit bill to establish measures on alcohol intake
A group of lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties have banded together to form a group called Arukoru Mondai Giin Renmei (Diet members concerned about alcohol-related problems). They have submitted a bill to establish a law on measures regarding alcohol-related problems, including health issues and alcoholism.
The Moscow Times (Russia) - Excise Taxes Push Help Russian Alcohol Consumption Down 13%
Alcohol consumption in Russia is down 13 percent this year, but growing drug use among young people and poor drinking habits have health officials concerned, Kommersant reported Friday.
Medical Daily - Fake ID Use May Lead To Alcohol Use Disorders Later In Life; Two-Thirds Of College Students Could Be At Risk
It’s no surprise that high school and college students who do not meet the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) use fake identification (ID) to purchase alcohol, but what can this type of behavior lead to down the road? Research reveals that students who use fake IDs are more likely to develop alcohol use disorders (AUD) later in life.
Science Daily (Norway) - One in 10 Women Drink a Little Alcohol While Pregnant
Researchers in Norway found that negative affectivity is linked to light alcohol use and binge drinking during pregnancy. Results published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, a journal of the Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology, show 16% of women had light alcohol use in the first trimester and 10% in the second trimester.
Denver Post - Among top breast cancer risk factors: Being overweight, alcohol intake
No. 2 in terms of risk factors? Byers says it is unquestionably alcohol consumption: Two or more drinks on average per day increases risk.
Times LIVE - Abstaining from alcohol may dramatically boost IVF success: study
A small study finds that for women undergoing IVF, drinking three or more glasses of wine a week could reduce odds of conceiving by two-thirds.
WalesOnline (Wales) - New campaign urges Welsh public to give up alcohol for a month
A campaign to encourage social drinkers to take a month off alcohol at the start of next year has been launched. Alcohol Concern’s Dry January 2014 was given its public launch at an event attended by Welsh Government Health Minister Mark Drakeford and the charity’s director in Wales Andrew Misell.
YLE News (Finland) - Alcohol burdens healthcare more than thought
Alcohol abuse is a much greater burden on healthcare than the statistics indicate. Officially, alcohol problems cost Finnish society more than a billion euros per year, but experts now say the real total is much higher.
WHO (Montenegro) - Screening for harmful alcohol use in Montenegro
A roundtable meeting held in Pogorica, Montenegro on 27 September 2013 addressed the early detection of harmful alcohol use and alcohol-related disorders. The meeting was organized jointly by the Ministry of Health and the WHO Country Office, Montenegro.
BreakingNews.ie (Ireland) - Ireland set to introduce minimum price for alcohol
Ireland will introduce a minimum price for alcohol - as long as it's cleared by authorities in Europe.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

FASD News - 41/2013

The Irish Times (Ireland) - Study finds 80% of Irish women drink during pregnancy
A high level of alcohol consumption in pregnancy has been reported by an international birth study led by researchers in Cork who found Ireland had the highest proportion of drinking during pregnancy.
SBS (Australia) - Concerns over FASD funding review
Twenty million dollars committed by the former federal government to help battle FASD is now under review..
St. Albert Gazette (Canada) - Parents of children with disabilities get creative
For St. Albert mother Michelle Gillespie, raising a child with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) has been nothing short of a challenge.
Medical News Today - Binge drinking during pregnancy linked to negative emotions
Researchers in Norway found that negative affectivity is linked to light alcohol use and binge drinking during pregnancy.
Science Daily (Norway) - One in 10 Women Drink a Little Alcohol While Pregnant
Researchers in Norway found that negative affectivity is linked to light alcohol use and binge drinking during pregnancy. Results published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, a journal of the Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology, show 16% of women had light alcohol use in the first trimester and 10% in the second trimester.
Transforming The Nation's Healthcare - Pregnancy drinking link to academic performance
Drinking while pregnant can adversely affect your child’s future academic performance, according to new research from The University of Queensland.
kfor.com (USA) - Binge drinking is a serious, under-recognized problem among women and girls
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 8, nearly 14 million, US women binge drink about three times a month. Women average six drinks per binge.
Counsel and Heal - Glass of Wine a Week Significantly Cuts Chances of Pregnancy
Having just one or two glasses of wine a week could lower a woman's chance of conceiving by a third, a new study suggests. Researchers found that having three or more glasses a week may lower the chance of becoming pregnancy by two thirds.
Tennant & District Times (Australia) - Puppet masters set for FASD film launch
Everyone is invited to a forum at the Civic Centre to herald the release of Barkly Fights Back, a story about taking control of community problems and paving the way to a better future.

MATERIALS and VIDEOS
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research: Newsletter

RESEARCH
Pediatrics - Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Child Care Settings: A Meta-analysis
Children often enter a child-care system (eg, orphanage, foster care, child welfare system) because of unfavorable circumstances (eg, maternal alcohol and/or drug problems, child abuse/neglect). Such circumstances increase the odds of prenatal alcohol exposure, and thus this population can be regarded as high risk for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).
The International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research - Exploring the prevention of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in the Northwest Territories of Canada: Brightening our home fires
Engagement with women in the NT on FASD prevention was important in broadly identifying the linkages between trauma and alcohol use while respecting context and stigma around alcohol use and pregnancy.
The International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research - Inhibition of cholinergic muscarinic signaling by ethanol: Potential mechanism of developmental neurotoxicity and biological plausibility for the beneficial effects of choline supplementation
Central nervous system dysfunctions are among the most significant effects of in utero exposure to ethanol. Ethanol has been shown to affect neurons and glial cells, causing cell loss and impaired cell migration and maturation. Multiple mechanisms have been suggested to underlie the effects of ethanol, including interference with growth factors, cytokines, cell adhesion molecules and neurotransmitters.
The International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research - On fitting a triangle into a circle: A study on employment outcomes of adults with FASD who attended postsecondary institutions
For those individuals who did not graduate or were not employed, symptoms of FASD and other disabilities (e.g., substance abuse and mental health problems) were related to these negative outcomes. However, a supportive network of friends and family contributed to success in postsecondary studies and employment.
The International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research - A practical testing battery to measure neurobehavioral ability among children with FASD
A brief, practical set of tests can discriminate between children with and without FASD and provide useful information for interventions for affected children.
The International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research - Case management reduces drinking during pregnancy among high-risk women
Making an enduring change in drinking behavior is difficult in this social setting. Nonetheless, CM provided by skilled and empathic case managers reduced maternal drinking at critical times, and, therefore, alcohol exposure levels to the fetus.
The International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research - Estimation of alcohol content of wine, beer and spirits to evaluate exposure risk in pregnancy: Pilot study using a questionnaire and pouring task in England
These findings support the hypothesis that when pouring their own drinks, individuals are poor at estimating each drink’s alcohol content. This has implications for public health strategies. Glass size and the level of alcohol concentration have different implications in different countries. For those drinking during pregnancy, however, the message that “no exposure is no risk” remains true.
The International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research - The value of the neuropsychological assessment for adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: A case study
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term that reflects the range of potential effects resulting from Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE). Individuals with FASD may demonstrate cognitive, functional and adaptive challenges that are as debilitating as those experienced by individuals with the full fetal alcohol syndrome.
The International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research - FASD service delivery: Exploring current systems of care from the caregivers' perspective
Study results emphasize the need for further research exploring the concept that caregivers experience specific caregiving stages, and that programming factors should align with caregivers’ needs in each of these stages. Participants’ narratives also suggest that the results of this study may be relevant beyond its regional specificity and limited sample size, and may in fact reflect the experiences of caregivers across jurisdictions.

IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Side2 (Norway) - JEG HAR EN HJERNESKADE FORDI MOREN MIN DRAKK ALKOHOL I SVANGERSKAPET
Jeg er så lei meg for alle bekymringene jeg påfører foreldrene mine. Nå får jeg ikke lenger hjelp av psykologen min heller. Tror de har gitt meg opp. Jeg har en hjerneskade fordi moren min drakk alkohol i svangerskapet, og det kan jo ikke behandles. Vet du noen plass familien min kan få hjelp?
Deutsches Ärzteblatt (Germany) - Fetales Alkoholsyndrom: Oft fehldiagnostiziert und falsch betreut
Durch eine erhöhte Sensibilisierung innerhalb der Ärzteschaft konnte die Unterdiagnostik der Fetalen Alkoholspektrumstörungen in den vergangenen Jahren verbessert werden. Im Erwachsenenbereich gibt es jedoch noch große, zum Teil strukturell bedingte Defizite.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Alcohol News - 41/2013

YLE Uutiset (Finland) - Researcher: Drinking now a 'common hobby'
Finns are drinking more than ever before, and they have made it more of a family pastime. The dark sides of alcohol usage have also become more prominent, as the number of assaults has doubled in the last 20 years.
ksl.com (USA) - Lower blood alcohol level could boost safety, group says
Would lowering the legal limit for a driver’s blood alcohol level make Utah roads safer? A local public policy think tank believes so and is joining an effort to reduce the legal level nationwide.
NEWS.com.au (Australia) - NT government plan GPS bracelets for alcohol-related criminals
PEOPLE who commit alcohol-fuelled crimes could soon have their movements tracked by GPS bracelets to ensure they do not go into pubs or bottle shops.
ESPN (USA) - Drink, drank, drunk
With due respect to distillers, brewers, vintners, advertisers, drinkers, drunks, teetotals, soaks, dries, winos, bluenoses, red noses, boozehounds, newshounds, revenuers, moonshiners, bartenders, schoolmarms, mothers and self-medicators, cops and B-girls and their advocacy groups, to drink responsibly is to miss the very point of drinking.
Penn State News (USA) - Symposium to reduce alcohol abuse attracts diverse audience to find a solution
Reducing high-risk alcohol use takes new ways of thinking and cooperation among multiple stakeholders, according to experts gathered Monday (Oct. 7) for a one-day symposium at Penn State.
Telemanagement - Alcohol could increase irregular heart rate
A large study suggests that alcohol consumption might increase the risk of atrial fibrillation. It has not previously been clear whether drinking alcohol is linked to atrial fibrillation, a potentially dangerous form of abnormal heart rhythm.
Bangkok Post (South Korea) - Anti-alcohol groups oppose FTAs
Governments must not allow international trade treaties such as Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to undermine efforts to protect the public from the dangers of alcohol, the Seoul Declaration on alcohol control...
Irish Independent (Ireland) - Alcohol and education costs drive 0.2pc increase in consumer prices
Irish consumers are paying slightly more on day to day living as average costs rose 0.2pc in September compared to the same month last year.
Galway Advertiser (Ireland) - Alcohol is a factor in fifty per cent of suicides, regional health forum told
Ireland’s rate of alcohol consumption is one of the highest in Europe, is responsible for 90 deaths a month, and is a factor in half of all suicides, a meeting of the HSE West’s regional health forum was told recently in Galway.
NEWS.com.au (Australia) - Underage drinking on a high among teenagers
UNDERAGE drinking is rife among teens, with higher rates recorded among those living in inner Melbourne.
Waikato Times (New Zealand) - Stand up to booze business, councils told
The Waikato District Health Board is calling on city, district and regional councils to stand up to strongarm tactics from supermarkets over the hours they are allowed to sell booze.
NPR - Drinking With Your Eyes: How Wine Labels Trick Us Into Buying
We're all guilty of it. Even if we don't want to admit it, we've all been suckered into grabbing a bottle of wine off the grocery store shelf just because of what's on the label. Seriously, who can resist the "see no evil" monkeys on a bottle of Pinot Evil?
The Australian (Australian) - Drinking mums sink their babies to bottom of class, study claims
A COUPLE of drinks several times a month damage an unborn child's future school performance, according to an Australian-led study.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Alcohol News - 40/2013

Finland Times (Helsinki) - Cabinet Committee backs moderate increase of tax on alcohol
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Policy extended Thursday its support for the proposal by the Minister of Finance that the alcohol tax hike planned for 2014 be introduced at half the rate specified in the spending limits decision, according to a press release.
Express.co.uk - Alcohol slows healing of bones
Doctors have long observed that booze benders can impair the healing process following a bone fracture. And new research is providing insights into how alcohol slows healing.
New York Post - Female alcohol abuse is a ‘global epidemic’
Alcohol abuse is rising in much of the developed world — and in many countries, female drinkers are driving that growth.
Express.co.uk (UK) - Goodbye to boozy Britain! We're losing our thirst for alcohol
Figures of booze consumption have plummeted to the lowest recorded this century. A typical British drinker chugs down an average of eight litres over the span of an entire year.
TVNZ (New Zealand) - Booze tunes a 'glorification of alcohol'
A new study showing an increase in music lyrics about alcohol has caused concern about how pop songs are influencing young people and binge-drinking culture.
TopNews New Zealand - Female Drinkers Promote Alcohol Abuse among Developed Countries
According to reports, many female drinkers are driving the growth of alcohol abuse in much of the developed countries.
West - Welfare Society Territory (France) - Rising alcohol and tobacco use among French teens
France’s anti-smoking and drinking policies to combat consumption among the young have failed. Sixteen and 17 year olds are actually now smoking and drinking more than in 2009, when the ban on selling alcohol and tobacco to the under-18s came into effect.
Telegraph.co.uk (UK) - One in five UK top ten songs have alcohol-related lyrics, study finds
One in five top ten songs in the UK have alcohol-related lyrics, a study has revealed, fueling concerns that music is promoting an unsafe image for young people.
The Chronicle of Social Change (USA) - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in America – A Silent Crisis
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is an umbrella term describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects may include physical, mental, behavioral, and learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications.
thenews.pl (Poland) - Poland plans tax increase on tobacco and alcohol
The Polish cabinet is considering draft legislation on Wednesday that includes the raising of excise taxes on tobacco products and alcohol.
Times of India (India) - Mumbai 24x7: Excise commissioner bats for ban on alcohol permits
Just days after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ( BMC) gave its assent to a proposal to allow some restaurants and shops to remain open all night comes more good news for Mumbai's flailing nightlife.
Ahlul Bayt News Agency – abna.ir (Russia) - Moscow bans alcohol sales during Eid al-Adha holiday
Moscow government prohibited the sale of alcohol near Soboraya and Istoricheskaya mosques during the celebration of Eid al-Adha holiday, RIA Novosti news agency reports with reference to the representative of the Prefecture of the Central Administrative District (CAO) of the capital of Russia.
medwireNews - Alcohol use disorders prevalent in bipolar disorder patients
Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) have a high rate of comorbidity with bipolar disorder in both men and women, according to findings from a recent systematic meta-analysis of both epidemiologic and clinical studies.
Malta Independent Online (EU) - ALCOHOL STRATEGIES IN THE EU
The World Health Organization reported in 2012 that Europe currently holds the highest per-capita alcohol consumption in the world. Furthermore, it is reported that the average adult in the EU consumes nearly 3 drinks a day - more than twice the world average.
Malta Independent Online (Malta) - SHOULD DRUNK TANKS BE INTRODUCED IN MALTA?
The potential introduction of drunk tanks, a holding cell for individuals who are intoxicated in public and unable to take care of themselves, has caused a bit of a stir in the UK of late. The Maltese government is aware of the UK proposal and told this newspaper that it will “assess all recommendations that reduce the consequences of over drinking”.
Manawatu Standard (New Zealand) - Young top statistics for drunk driving
Drink-driving convictions are tumbling in Palmerston North, but drivers under 25 are still getting caught in greater numbers than anyone else.
Herald Sun (Australia) - Australian of the Year Ita Buttrose calls for drinking age to be raised to 21
AUSTRALIAN of the Year Ita Buttrose wants the nation to trial a drinking age of 21, calling for a shift in attitudes to alcohol that should include voluntarily restricting it to meal times.
Irish Health (Ireland) - 'Govt must act on alcohol crisis'
Alcohol Action Ireland has called on the Government to to finally tackle our harmful relationship with alcohol. It wants to Government to implement the recommendations to reduce alcohol-related harm it is currently considering without further delay.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

FASD News - 39/2013

International Charter on Prevention of FASD
The First International Conference on Prevention of FASD was held in Edmonton, Canada from September 23 to 25, 2013. The following Charter was endorsed and adopted by the delegates at the meeting, who included about 700 people from 35 countries around the world; senior government officials, scholars and policy makers, parents and families, and indigenous people. It is presented to all concerned in the international community, as a call for urgent actions to prevent FASD.

GlobalPost (Canada) - Panel says Criminal Code should allow conditional sentences for people with FASD
A panel on legal issues facing people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is recommending conditional sentences would be better for those convicted of offences.
The Chronicle of Social Change (USA) - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in America – A Silent Crisis
FASD is the leading known cause of mental retardation in America today. The annual cost to the U.S. of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome alone in direct and indirect cost is approximately $5.4 billion dollars, according to the Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (MOFAS).
GlobalPost (Canada) - Alberta Premier Redford urges renewed effort on root causes of FASD
Alberta Premier Alison Redford says it's critical to address the root causes of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and not just the symptoms.
The Argus.ca (Canada) - “Protecting the unprotected”: think before you drink
Lakehead is the first university in Canada to have a pregnancy-test dispenser installed on campus. A single pregnancy test can be purchased for $3 from the dispenser in the women’s washroom in The Outpost. The goal of the dispenser is to raise awareness about fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and the effects of alcohol on an unborn fetus.
Independent Online (South Africa) - SA moms-to-be unware of alcohol dangers
Many South African mothers-to-be remain unaware of the danger of drinking alcohol while pregnant, a social worker from the Saartjie Baartman Centre said on Monday.
DigitalJournal.com (USA) - 18% Pregnant Women Endangering Infants By Drinking During Pregnancy
According to an article on 9/11 by Medical News Today titled, Nearly 18 percent of pregnant women drink alcohol in early stages of pregnancy, during their first trimester of pregnancy, approximately 18 percent of women consumed alcohol within the past month according to a new report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Express.co.uk (UK) - Pregnant woman refused wine because barman didn't want it 'on his conscience'
A MOTHER-TO-BE has told how she was left "humiliated" by bar staff after being refused a small glass of wine because she is pregnant.
NEWS.com.au (Australia) - Alcohol industry lags on mandatory pregnancy warning labels
ALCOHOL companies are flouting government guidelines to warn mothers of the dangers of drinking while pregnant.
Healio - Alcohol consumption before first pregnancy increased breast neoplasia risk
Women who consumed alcohol between menarche and first pregnancy carried a 10% increased risk for breast cancer, according to study results.
East Coast Radio (South Africa) - Pregnant mums unaware of alcohol risk
The Saartjie Baartman Centre says many South African mothers-to-be remain unaware of the danger of drinking alcohol while pregnant. "There is still a lot of awareness that needs to be done. Mothers don't know that if they are pregnant they should not be drinking," said social worker Dorothea Gertse.
TheParliament.com (EU) - MEP calls for stricter EU measures to protect unborn babies
More needs to be done to ensure that unborn babies are not exposed to alcohol during pregnancy, explains Radvile Morkunaite-Mikuleniene.
ABC Online - Should fetal alcohol disorder be classed a disability?
Every day, somewhere in Australia, a baby is born who will endure a lifetime of hardship because of an entirely preventable condition.
Edmonton Journal (Canada) - Graham Thomson: Alberta deserves praise as leader in FASD strategy
You might have heard of the two back-to-back conferences in Edmonton dealing with the problem of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
NC Research Campus - Less Birth Defects in the World: FASD Prevention and Intervention
Philip May, PhD, a research professor with the UNC Chapel Hill Nutrition Research Institute at the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis, makes that statement with authority because he is one of the world’s leading experts in the field of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). FASD children have a number of disabilities that range from abnormal facial features, to learning and behavioral deficiencies to problems with hearing, vision, the heart, kidneys and bones.

MATERIALS AND VIDEOS
Being dad starts when she gets pregnant
We’re challenging 500 Australians to ‘take a Pause’ from alcohol consumption during the pregnancy of a loved one – wife, partner, daughter, sister, friend or work colleague.
Alcohol and Pregnancy Pocket Guide
WCT Spotlight - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Turning the spotlight on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, an important element in our production of Dreary and Izzy. Joining the discussion are Faye Burles, School Psycologist for SD 73, and Lia Vivian, Key Worker for Insight Support Services.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Frontiers - Experimental models of early exposure to alcohol: a way to unravel the neurobiology of mental retardation
Excessive alcohol drinking represents a major social and public health problem for several countries. Alcohol abuse during pregnancy leads to a complex clinical disorder referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), chiefly characterized by mental retardation (MR).

RESEARCH
Pediatrics - Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Child Care Settings: A Meta-analysis
The results confirm that children and youth housed in or under the guardianship of the wide range of child-care systems constitute a population that is high-risk for FASD. It is imperative that screening be implemented in these at-risk populations.
CLINICAL CORRELATES OF FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER AMONG DIAGNOSED INDIVIDUALS IN A RURAL DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC
Diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is relevant for the reduction of long term adverse sequalae. However, the diagnostic guidelines require a multidisciplinary approach which may hinder access to diagnostic and management services. Most diagnostic clinics are located in urban areas. There is less emphasis on the operations, capacities, and outcomes from rural diagnostic clinics.
PLOSone - Fate Analysis of Adult Hippocampal Progenitors in a Murine Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
Prenatal alcohol exposure can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and associated behavioral impairments that may be linked to disruptions in adult hippocampal neurogenesis.
Academia.edu - Neurodevelopmental epigenetic etiologies: insightsrom studies on mouse models o etal alcoholspectrum disorders
The development of an organism from a singlecell (ontogeny) is an intricate and enigmaticprocess. It is initiated by maternal and paternalnuclear contributions that are complementary but not identical.
BMC Pediatrics - Recommendations from a consensus development workshop on the diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in Australia
These consensus recommendations provide a foundation for the development of guidelines and other resources to promote consistency in the diagnosis of FASD in Australia. Guidelines for diagnosis will require review and evaluation in the Australian context prior to national implementation as well as periodic review to incorporate new knowledge.
Nutrition Research - Choline supplementation in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders has high feasibility and tolerability
There are no biological treatments for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), lifelong conditions associated with physical anomalies, brain damage, and neurocognitive abnormalities. In preclinical studies, choline partially ameliorates memory and learning deficits from prenatal alcohol exposure.

IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Neue Nordhäuser Zeitung (Germany) - DIE "ERSTE" IN SÜLZHAYN
"Sie sind lieb, sie sind süß, aber auch distanzlos, zerstörerisch, aggressiv, nicht zu bändigen, locken in uns Mutterinstinkte hervor, was soll bloß aus ihnen werden... “, mit diesem einleitenden Satz beginnt Praktikantin Frau Friedrich ihre Bachelorarbeit...
Helsingin Sanomat (Finland) - Päihdeäitien kuntoutukseen ei herunut rahaa hallitukselta
Hallitus haluaa päihdeäidit pakkohoitoon, mutta jätti taas budjetista pois 1,5 miljoonan euron määrärahan vapaaehtoiseen hoitoon. Se on auttanut satoja perheitä.
Helsingin Sanomat (Finland) - Asiantuntijat huolissaan äitien alkoholinkäytöstä – lasillinenkin voi olla liikaa
Vähäinenkin alkoholinkäyttö raskauden aikana huolestuttaa alan tutkijoita. He vetoavat nollatoleranssin puolesta. Asiantuntijat ovat huolissaan raskaana olevien suomalaisten alkoholinkäytöstä.