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Sunday, February 22, 2015

FASD News - 7/2015

Medscape (USA) - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Underdiagnosed in Children
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is widely underdiagnosed in young children, preventing them from receiving crucial support services early in life, a new study finds.
WebMD.Boots.com (UK) - New advice for mums-to-be says "no alcohol"
Women planning a pregnancy, and those in the first three months of a pregnancy, are being advised not to drink any alcohol under new guidance.
WAFB.com - Experts work to keep expectant mothers from drinking
Most people have heard of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, but it's a disorder that's often misunderstood. Most children exposed to alcohol in the womb can develop a lesser form of a similar condition that falls under the umbrella of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). It's the subject of a recent documentary produced by a world-renowned expert on the subject.
Deming Headlight (USA) - Data shows high rate of drug, alcohol use in expectant moms
About one in 20 expectant women in the United States report heavy alcohol use during their pregnancy, according to the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Center.
Government of Canada (Canada) - Government of Canada Supports Young Offenders Living with FASD
Today, Justice Minister Peter MacKay, along with Member of Parliament for Yukon Ryan Leef, announced $536,658 in funding to the McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association in Calgary to fund a new FASD Housing Coordinator.

VIDEOS and MATERIALS
Alcohol-Free Pregnancy - Stephen DeJoseph on Living with FASD
NOFAS seeks to create a global community free of alcohol-exposed pregnancies and a society supportive of individuals already living with FASD.
Adrienne Bashista – FASD Book
I am collecting names and experiences of folks who are living with FASD (meaning they ARE a person with FASD, a parent, family member, caregiver, husband/wife, partner, or a professional working with folks with an FASD) to create a collection of stories to illustrate the HOPE and HEALING that can occur when FASD is recognized as a neurobehavioral disability, and understood accordingly.

UPCOMING
Understanding and supporting children with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Course – March 2
Understanding and supporting children with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) A half-day training session.
6th International Conference on FASD in Vancouver: Mar 3 – 7, 2015
This conference continues to bring together experts from multiple disciplines to share international research.

RESEARCH
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences - Ethical and social challenges in newborn screening for prenatal alcohol exposure
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research - Prenatal alcohol exposure alters steady-state and activated gene expression in the adult rat brain
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is associated with alterations in numerous physiological systems, including the stress and immune systems. We have previously shown that PAE increases the course and severity of arthritis in an adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) model.
BMJ Open - In utero exposure to alcohol and puberty in boys: a pregnancy cohort study
Epidemiological studies have raised concerns about the reproductive consequences of in utero exposure to alcohol.
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research - Genetic absence of nNOS worsens fetal alcohol effects in mice. II: Microencephaly and neuronal losses
Prenatal alcohol exposure can kill developing neurons, leading to microencephaly and mental retardation. However, not all fetuses are equally vulnerable to alcohol's neurotoxic effects.
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research - Changes in the methylation status of DAT, SERT, and MeCP2 gene promoters in the blood cell in families exposed to alcohol during the periconceptional period
Alcohol exposure has been shown to cause devastating effects on neurobehavioral development in numerous animal and human studies. The alteration of DNA methylation levels in gene-specific promoter regions has been investigated in some studies of human alcoholics.

IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Lady.sk (Slovenia) - Aj na Slovensku už máme vyškolených odborníkov na diagnostiku fetálneho alkoholového syndrómu
Diagnóza fetálny alkoholový syndróm (FAS) postihuje na Slovensku ročne približne jedno z dvesto detí, aj keď názory na tento počet sa odlišujú, keďže táto oblasť je u nás ešte stále pomerne neprebádaná.
Inhimillisiä Uutisia (Finland) - FAKTA: SULKEMALLA KORKIN ESTETTÄISIIN MONEN LAPSEN TURHA KEHITYSVAMMA
Suomessa syntyy entistä useammin lapsia, joilla on jonkinasteinen alkoholin aiheuttama vamma.
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Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Alcohol News - 7/2015

BBC News (UK) - Family Drug and Alcohol Courts to be extended in England
Courts which help parents deal with drug or alcohol addiction so they can keep their children are to be opened in more areas of England.
USA TODAY - Alcohol good for your heart? Evidence is evaporating
The idea that alcohol might be good for our hearts and blood vessels is a popular one, right up there with the notion that chocolate is a health food.
Telegraph.co.uk (UK) - Nicola Sturgeon 'far from convinced' ban on alcohol in football stadiums should be lifted
Nicola Sturgeon has said she is “far from convinced” that the ban on alcohol at football matches should be removed almost 35 years after it was imposed.
Global Voices Online (Singapore) - No More Selling or Drinking Alcohol in Public After 10:30PM in Singapore
Singapore has passed a law that bans the buying and selling of alcohol, including the drinking of alcohol in public places, from 10:30 p.m. until 7 a.m.
Cystic Fibrosis News Today - Lung Donors’ Alcohol Habits Affect Recipient Recovery, Study Shows
A study published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research revealed that the heavy drinking habits of lung donors can influence the outcome of lung transplantation in recipient patients.
NL Times (Netherlands) - MORE YOUNG TEENS HOSPITALIZED FOR ALCOHOL POISONING
The number of children admitted to the hospital with alcohol poisoning increased last year, despite the stricter legislation.
ABC Online (Australia) - Call to raise drinking age to 20, to cut alcohol-fueled violence and trauma
A University of Newcastle academic says his research shows having a minimum drinking age of 18 increases assaults and road trauma.
News Guardian (UK) - Deaths connected to alcohol rise in region
The north east has the second highest rate of alcohol-related deaths in England, latest figures reveal.
The Riviera Times (France) - France’s alcohol consumption halved in 20 years
According to a new study, just 18% of French men and 6% of French women consume alcohol on a daily basis, marking a reduction of 50% in the past 20 years. On the other hand, the statistics also show that underage drinking is a growing problem for France.
BreakingNews.ie (Ireland) - Criticism of new alcohol awareness campaign funded by industry
A youth campaigner has attacked a new campaign to tackle alcohol abuse, which he says can’t work because it’s funded by the drinks giant, Diageo.
WalesOnline (Wales) - Drink-related deaths up by nearly 50% since start of the millennium, new figures reveal
Alcohol-related deaths among men in Wales have soared by nearly half since the start of the millennium, new figures have revealed.
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Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Alcohol News - 6/2015

Medical News Today - Mortality benefits of moderate alcohol use 'may be overestimated'
Studies have hailed light to moderate alcohol consumption for numerous health benefits, including reduced likelihood of cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality. But in a new study published in The BMJ, researchers claim such benefits may have been "overestimated."
Belfast Telegraph (UK) - No alcohol at all in early pregnancy, says report
Women should not drink alcohol at all while they are trying to conceive, or during the first three months of pregnancy, according to new advice.
Daily Mail - Facebook really CAN drive you to drink: Researchers find those who comment on alcohol related posts more likely to fancy a tipple
Facebook really can drive you to drink - or wanting one, at least. Researchers found the more a Facebook user gets involved in alcohol-related pages or posts – whether it's a like, share or comment – the more likely that person is to consider drinking alcohol.
Irish Times (Ireland) - Appointment of former head of alcohol body to RTÉ board approved
The Government has resisted pressure from stakeholders in the health sector and approved the appointment of a former chief executive of Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Society (Meas) to the board of RTÉ.
Daily Mail (UK) - Alcohol death rates FOUR times higher among low paid cleaners and labourers than well-off professionals
Drink-related early death rates among low paid workers like bar staff, cleaners and labourers are four times higher than well-paid professionals, a new study showed today.
Medscape (USA) - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Underdiagnosed in Children
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is widely underdiagnosed in young children, preventing them from receiving crucial support services early in life, a new study finds.
Daily Mail - Are you a drinkorexic? Rising number of women are swapping food calories for alcoholic ones, experts warn
Experts have warned that increasing numbers of women are cutting back on food to drink wine - a problem they have called ‘drinkorexia’.
Business Insider - Science says just holding a beer could make you look less intelligent — and less hireable
You don't need a scientist to tell you that people do some dumb things when they've had too much to drink. But just holding a beer can make you look less intelligent, according to a joint study by the University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania.
Irish Times (Ireland) - Cutting alcohol consumption: details of new Bill
Advertising alcoholic drinks in a way intended to appeal to children will be banned as part of the Government’s new legislation designed to reduce consumption.
BBC News (UK) - Campaigners want tougher regulation of alcohol adverts
There should be stricter regulations on alcohol advertising because of its impact on children, campaigners say.
The Legal Examiner (USA) - Any Alcohol May Be Too Much for Drivers, Federal Study Reveals
A February 2015 report from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration should give pause to anyone who believes that the proverbial “just two glasses of wine with dinner” leaves them safe to drive.
Mirror.co.uk - Children now more familiar with ALCOHOL brands than biscuits and crisps, says study
Primary school children as young as 10 are more familiar with beer brands than leading brands of biscuits, crisps and ice cream, according to a study.
Irish Independent (Scotland) - Scottish price plans referred to Europe
Plans to introduce minimum pricing on alcohol in Scotland have been met with huge opposition and have been referred to the European Court of Justice with a decision due some time next year.
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Sunday, February 8, 2015

FASD News - 5/2015

NEWS and ARTICLES
Ktoo (USA) - Effort to warn women about alcohol during pregnancy
A media campaign is set to launch in March that’s aimed at reducing the number of children born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in Alaska.
Juneau Empire - Finding the good with FASD
It’s important to find the good, explained Mary Katasse, a mother of three children with FASD. She finds the good in even undesirable behavior because she said her children yearn to do good and will strive to do more good.
NOFAS (USA) - CDC Publishes FAS Data and FASD Estimate
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the latest edition of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), describes findings from a new report, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Among Children Aged 7-9 Years – Arizona, Colorado, and New York, 2010, on the prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) at three sites within the CDC-funded Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Surveillance Network II.
The Joint - ADHD, or FASD?
A report released in November 2013 found that 11% of children in the US aged 4 to 17 had been diagnosed with ADHD, and that number is quickly rising. Some people believe ADHD is the product of genetics, a poor environment, or simply doctors racking up diagnoses in order to profit from what are simply “problem children,” not taught proper discipline by their parents.
Ob.Gyn. News - Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are a vibrant area of development and research. Awareness about this preventable group of conditions appears to be growing.

RESOURCES AND VIDEOS
UC San Diego POLICY DESIGN AND EVALUATION LAB - Computer Games to Improve Behavioral Regulation in FASD-affected Children
The research team has developed a treatment for children with FASD-related adaptive functioning impairments that was demonstrated in a pilot study in the United States to be effective for children with FASD in the age range of 5 - 10 years.
NEW PSA DEVELOPED IN EFFORT TO EXPAND FASD PREVENTION STATEWIDE
The Trust presentation to the Senate Finance Committee today included the premiere of a new PSA developed to educate, engage and enlist legislators regarding the need for increased statewide attention to the challenges posed by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in Alaska, from a social level to an economic one.
Your Alberta - Practical strategies and support for families affected by FASD
Mary Berube (MSW, RSW) provides practical suggestions about what parents can do to strengthen their relationships with their children affected by FASD to give the children the best start in life.

UPCOMING
13th Annual Harm Reduction Conference
The Alberta Harm Reduction Conference has been in existence since 2000. Initially it was an annual event, and is now held biannually. We have been privileged to have speakers and attendees from across Canada and the US. The conference is a joint effort by Alberta’s needle exchange/Harm Reduction programs, including Safeworks (Calgary), Central Alberta AIDS Network (Red Deer), HIV North (Grande Prairie/Fort MacMurray), HIV West Yellowhead (Jasper), HIV Community Link (Calgary/Medicine Hat), the Lethbridge HIV Connection and Streetworks (Edmonton).

RESEARCH
CDC - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Among Children Aged 7–9 Years — Arizona, Colorado, and New York, 2010
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a serious birth defect and developmental disorder caused by in utero exposure to alcohol (1). Assessment of the public health burden of FAS through surveillance has proven difficult; there is wide variation in reported prevalence depending on the study population and surveillance method.
Pediatrics - Misdiagnosis and Missed Diagnoses in Foster and Adopted Children With Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
The purpose of this article is to assess the rate of misdiagnosis and missed diagnoses of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) among a population of foster and adopted youth referred to a children’s mental health center.
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 syndrome referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), chiefly characterized by mental retardation.
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research - Effects of prenatal alcohol and cigarette exposure on offspring substance use in multiplex, alcohol-dependent families
Women with a family history of SUD are at increased risk for substance use during pregnancy. Both familial loading for alcohol dependence and prenatal exposure to alcohol or cigarettes are important risk factors in the development of offspring substance use.
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research - Moderate-level prenatal alcohol exposure induces sex differences in dopamine D1 receptor binding in adult rhesus monkey
These results suggest that prenatal alcohol exposure results in long-term increases in prefrontal dopamine D1R binding in males. This may help explain gender differences in the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders consequent to prenatal alcohol exposure.
Alcohol - Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and behavioral dysfunction following early binge-like prenatal alcohol exposure in mice
The range of defects that fall within fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) includes persistent behavioral problems, with anxiety and depression being two of the more commonly reported issues.
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research - Prenatal ethanol exposure impairs executive function in mice into adulthood
Previously, data from clinical studies have suggested that executive control deficits may underlie cognitive, as well as social, problems seen in adolescents with documented PAE. These data demonstrate that even more moderate alcohol exposure during development can lead to impaired cognitive functioning well into adulthood.
Neuropsychology - Visual-spatial abilities relate to mathematics achievement in children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure
The current study examined the relationship between mathematics and attention, working memory, and visual memory in children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure and controls.
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research - beta-Endorphin neuronal transplantation into the hypothalamus alters anxiety-like behaviors in prenatal alcohol-exposed rats and alcohol-non-preferring and alcohol-preferring rats
Alcohol exposure has adverse effects on stress physiology and behavioral reactivity. This is suggested to be due, in part, to the effect of alcohol on β-endorphin (β-EP)-producing neurons in the hypothalamus. In response to stress, β-EP normally provides negative feedback to the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and interacts with other neurotransmitter systems in the amygdala to regulate behavior.
Behavioural Brain Research - An fMRI study of behavioral response inhibition in adolescents with and without histories of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure
Heavy prenatal alcohol exposure results in a range of deficits, including both volumetric and functional changes in brain regions involved in response inhibition such as the prefrontal cortex and striatum.

IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Italiasalute.it (Italy) - Feto esposto all'alcol rischia disturbi del comportamento
In presenza di disturbi comportamentali nei bambini, i medici dovrebbero considerare la possibilità di un disturbo non diagnosticato dello spettro fetale alcolico (Fasd).
Ärzte Zeitung (Germany) - Schwangere besser aufklären
Das Ausmaß schwerer Schädigungen von Kindern durch Alkoholkonsum während der Schwangerschaft wird offenbar drastisch unterschätzt. Die Politik soll helfen, besser aufzuklären - und Betroffene vor Stigmatisierung zu schützen, fordern Experten.
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Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Alcohol News - 5/2015

Irish Times (Ireland) - Alcohol legislation follows behind curve of public opinion rather than leading it
Like free education or the smoking ban, the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill marks a paradigm shift in a key area of public policy.
Irish Examiner (Ireland) - Alcohol health warnings to tackle bingeing
Alcoholic drinks will carry calorie counts, health warnings, and a minimum price floor under a wide-ranging Government bid to combat abuse.
BBC News (UK) - Armed forces alcohol abuse strategy criticised
Prof Neil Greenberg, lead on military health at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said educating personnel about dangers did not stop them from excessive drinking.
Colorado Springs Gazette (USA) - Alcohol redefined as 'weapon' in sexual assault cases by prosecutors, military officials
The alcohol - rum, vodka, wine and hard cider - listed in the latest allegation of sexual assault between Air Force Academy cadets is being viewed in a new way by the military and civilian prosecutors.
Tech Times - Heavy Drinking at Middle Age Increases Stroke Risk by 34 Percent
Alcohol consumption in middle age can increase the risk of stroke by as much as 34 percent, according to a new study.
BreakingNews.ie (Ireland) - Government drafts new laws to set out a minimum price for alcohol
The Government has drafted laws setting out a minimum price for alcohol in a bid to tackle harmful drinking.
The Diplomat (Indonesia) - Indonesia Wages War on Alcohol
Indonesian minimarts will no longer be able to sell alcoholic beverages following a new government regulation that takes full effect in April.
YLE News (Finland) - Health authority looks to enforce alcohol laws, new and old
A little more than a month ago, while boozy New Year’s celebrations were still underway, Finland’s alcohol laws quietly became just a little stricter. For years hundreds of pubs across the country have held pub quizzes or other games where winners would get drink coupons for their skills and abilities, but welfare and health authority Valvira is looking put that - and breaches of other alcohol laws - to an end, once and for all.
WXIA-TV - Alcohol plays role in many air rage incidents
People get on a plane for all kinds of reasons: work, a wedding, a family vacation or funeral. Mix all that with alcohol, cramped quarters and too much baggage and sometimes the skies aren't so friendly.
EurActiv (EU) - MEPs push for alcohol strategy on the EU's health agenda
The members of the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) on Thursday (29 January) voted on a draft motion for a resolution on the EU's alcohol strategy.
Independent Online (South Africa) - Alcohol abuse costs SA billions
South Africans’ heavy boozing habits, especially among women, are costing the local and national government an estimated R17 billion each year.
stv.tv (Scotland) - Third of Scots believe homelessness caused by drugs and alcohol
There is a huge difference between the perception of homeless people and the reality of their situation, a survey has found.
WA today (Australia) - Time to put the brakes on harmful booze consumption
The National Alliance for Action on Alcohol recently bestowed on the federal government the dubious honour of performing worst among all Australian governments in tackling alcohol problems with the "Fizzers" award.
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