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Sunday, November 29, 2015

FASD News - 47/2015

NEWS and ARTICLES
Midland Reporter-Telegram - Doctor: It’s unsafe for pregnant women to drink any alcohol
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders -- an umbrella term for the impact of prenatal alcohol use on a child -- affects an estimated 40,000 infants every year, according to 2014 statistics from the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. It is the leading preventable cause of birth defects and developmental disabilities in the United States.
The Australian (Australia) - Remote mothers take control of drinking during pregnancy
Pregnant mothers have elimin­ated or reduced their intake of ­alcohol in a life-affirming turn­around in the Kimberley region, which made international headlines with one of the world’s highest rates of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, or FASD, in findings published early this year.
CBC.ca (Canada) - Northern Ontario pilot project aims to get MedicAlert bracelets for people with FASD
Northern Ontario is the testing ground for a new program for people living with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. People can apply for a MedicAlert bracelet identifying them as having the brain condition.
Cambridge News (UK) - Research midwife at the Rosie gives evidence to MPs about fetal alcohol syndrome
A research midwife at the Rosie has given evidence to a group of MPs who are investigating the current state of fetal alcohol syndrome in the UK.
Northern Star (Australia) - Foetal alcohol syndrome ‘more common than we think’
A CORAKI man whose grandson suffers from foetal alcohol syndrome says the condition is far more widespread than people realise. Paul Parker believes up to 10% of the child population in the Northern Rivers could have the condition, and in many cases parents may not realise their children are afflicted by it.
Huffington Post Canada - Alcohol Use In Pregnancy Is Part Of A Complex Set Of Issues
In my work as a neonatologist, I've looked after many, many babies. I've seen families of all ages, cultures and circumstances. But I've never seen a mother who wanted to harm her growing baby.
Courier Mail (Australia) - Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder prevalent in Ipswich children, foster carer lobbies for more support
An Ipswich foster carer is calling for more support and awareness surrounding foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).

UPCOMING
Alberta - FASD and Homelessness (Webinar on December 4)
This presentation will review current research and best practices around the subject of FASD and Homelessness.

VIDEOS and MATERIALS
BEST PRACTICES FOR FASD SERVICE DELIVERY
This document is intended to provide guidance for individuals and agencies working with clients with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and their families.
AlcoholFreePregnancy - Implications of FASD for the Adoptive Family - NOFAS Webinar
Presenter: Dr. Ira J. Chasnoff M.D.
AlcoholFreePregnancy - Dr. Ken Jones Speech - NOFAS Event
This video is from the 2015 NOFAS International Gala at the Embassy of France in Washington, DC.

RESEARCH
Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology - Using a common form for consistent collection and reporting of FASD data from across Canada: a feasibility study
This study was undertaken to determine the feasibility of collecting information on individuals newly diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in multi-disciplinary diagnostic programs across Canada.
Scientific Reports - Prenatal exposure to recreational drugs affects global motion perception in preschool children
Prenatal exposure to recreational drugs impairs motor and cognitive development; however it is currently unknown whether visual brain areas are affected.
Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology - Prenatal alcohol exposure inducing the apoptosis of mossy cells in hippocampus of SMS2-/- mice
In order to understand the mechanisms of alcohol-induced neuroapoptosis through the ceramide pathway, sphingomyelin synthase 2 knockout (SMS2−/−) mice were used to make the prenatal alcohol exposure model, and the role of ceramide regulation on alcohol-induced neuroapoptosis was studied in the offspring. Initially the levels of serum sphingomyelin (SM) were detected with enzymatic method in P0 pups after alcohol exposure in parents.
Neuropsychology - Cognitive factors contributing to spelling performance in children with prenatal alcohol exposure
Heavy prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with impaired school functioning. Spelling performance has not been comprehensively evaluated.
Epigenetics and Chromatin - Prenatal ethanol exposure alters adult hippocampal VGLUT2 expression with concomitant changes in promoter DNA methylation, H3K4 trimethylation and miR-467b-5p levels
Maternal consumption of alcohol during pregnancy is associated with a range of physical, cognitive and behavioural outcomes in the offspring which are collectively called foetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment - Prenatal substance use: exploring assumptions of maternal unfitness
In spite of the growing knowledge and understanding of addiction as a chronic relapsing medical condition, individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) continue to experience stigmatization.
Epigenetics and Chromatin - Dose-dependent alcohol-induced alterations in chromatin structure persist beyond the window of exposure and correlate with fetal alcohol syndrome birth defects
In recent years, we have come to recognize that a multitude of in utero exposures have the capacity to induce the development of congenital and metabolic defects. As most of these encounters manifest their effects beyond the window of exposure, deciphering the mechanisms of teratogenesis is incredibly difficult.
Frontiers in Psychiatry - Eyeblink classical conditioning in alcoholism and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
Alcoholism is a debilitating disorder that can take a significant toll on health and professional and personal relationships. Excessive alcohol consumption can have a serious impact on both drinkers and developing fetuses, leading to long-term learning impairments.
Alcohol - Proceedings of the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Study Group
The 2015 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Study Group (FASDSG) meeting was titled “Basic Mechanisms and Translational Implications”. Despite decades of basic science and clinical research, our understanding of the mechanisms by which ethanol affects fetal development is still in its infancy.

IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Radio Olsztyn (Poland) - Co to jest FASD?
Wczesna diagnoza, już w momencie urodzenia daje wskazówki dla szybkiej interwencji, dla leczenia, precyzuje konkretne potrzeby dziecka i rodziny, tylko… jak się przyznać przed lekarzem, położną, że piło się alkohol w czasie ciąży.
Postimees (Estonia) - Raseda alkoholilembus paistab tihti välja imiku näost
«Juhul, kui rase tarvitab ka regulaarselt väikeseid alkoholikoguseid, võib see areneva loote rakkude arenemise segi paisata,» rääkis Suurbritannia National Clinic for Fetal Alcohol arst dr Raja Mukherjee. «Veelgi tõenäolisemalt paistab vastsündinu näos välja ema alkoholi kuritarvitamine ning need füüsilised muutused toimuvad embrüoga väga lühikese aja jooksul,» lisas ta.

Friday, November 27, 2015

Alcohol News - 47/2015

The Irish Times (Ireland) - Children are regularly exposed to alcohol ads, study finds
The majority of Irish children are regularly exposed to alcohol advertising and marketing by drinks companies, a new study has found.
Headlines & Global News (USA) - Alcohol Consumption: Women Catching Up to Men’s Drinking Habits, Study Finds
Men commonly drink more alcohol than women, but a study from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), which is part of the National Institutes of Health, found that the gap between male and female drinking patterns in the U.S. is narrowing and women are catching up to men in terms of alcohol consumption.
The Moscow Times (Russia) - Russia's Consumer Rights Watchdog Files Lawsuit Against 14 Alcohol-Selling Websites
Russia's consumer rights watchdog has filed a lawsuit demanding that 14 alcohol-selling websites be banned, the Interfax news agency reported Thursday.
Medical Xpress - 'Fear of missing out' linked to alcohol harm in students
University students who have a greater "fear of missing out" (FoMO) are much more likely to experience negative consequences from drinking alcohol, new University of Otago psychology research suggests.
The Guardian - Alcohol: it makes time in the air fly by
A number of airlines have apparently written to the government to raise concerns about the growing problem of drunken incidents on board. In response the aviation minister, Robert Goodwill, said airlines should limit the number of alcoholic drinks sold to passengers on flights.
Irish Examiner (Ireland) - Calls to scrap outdoor ads for alcohol as a third of secondary school children went binge drinking in the past month
A third of secondary school children have engaged in binge drinking in the past month, including almost a quarter of teens aged 13 to 15. A new study on youth drinking and the impact of marketing on their alcohol habits also found almost three-quarters of the 686 teenagers surveyed said they intended to drink when they reach 18.
Medscape - Alcohol and Cancer: Drink at Your Own Risk
Fine wines, craft beers, cocktails, and champagne made by French monks are considered by many as complements to good company and fine cuisine. The last thing anyone wants to hear is that alcohol causes cancer.
BBC News (UK) - Three-year-olds 'recognise smell of alcoholic drinks'
Children as young as three can recognise the smell associated with alcohol, NHS Highland's director of public health has said in a new report.
News-Medical.net - Healthcare professionals urged to tackle alcohol misuse, reduce risk of colorectal cancer
Healthcare professionals across Europe are being urged to help reduce the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) by taking positive action against alcohol misuse and dependence. High levels of alcohol dependence and low levels of treatment have recently been identified in a European primary care study, fuelling the argument that family doctors must play a key role in preventing alcohol-related harm and reducing the incidence of CRC.
Daily Mail - Drunk passengers could be banned by airlines for life and booze sales limited on problem flights to tackle rife alcohol-fuelled air rage
Airlines could impose blanket life bans on drunk passengers and limit the amount of alcohol sold on flights blighted by air rage, it was revealed today.
The Argus - 'Alcohol ruined my life' - recovering alcoholics speak of their struggle after figures reveal there are two drink-related deaths in Brighton and Hove each week
In Brighton and Hove there is an average of two alcohol-related deaths each week. To mark alcohol awareness week senior reporter Flora Thompson speaks to a mother and a teacher whose lives were ripped apart by their dependency on drink but are now recovering thanks to support services.
The Conversation AU (Australia) - Older Australians' drinking on the rise and they don’t know the risks
When we think about who experiences harm caused by alcohol, most people think about young people. However, Australian data show the rate of risky drinking among young people has been decreasing, while risky drinking among older adults has been increasing.

Friday, November 20, 2015

Alcohol and Cancer

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Alcohol News - 46/2015

Live Science - College Rape Study Reveals Alcohol, Drug Use Pattern
A woman's risk of being raped during college is highest during her freshman year, studies have shown. Now, researchers who want to understand which women may be at greatest risk of experiencing sexual assault while they are incapacitated due to drugs or alcohol during their first year say they have uncovered two factors linked with women’s risk of sexual assault.
The Guardian - Gene mutation linked to impulsive behaviour with alcohol, study finds
Disruption to gene HTR2B could affect decision-making and self-control and may explain why some people are more prone to impulsive behaviour.
EurekAlert - Merging alcohol giants threaten global health, warn experts
The merger of the world's two largest beer manufacturers "represents a major threat to global health, to which researchers, funders and regulators must respond more effectively," warn global health experts in The BMJ this week.
PR Newswire - Alcohol Justice And US Alcohol Policy Alliance Urge DC Metro Leaders To Keep Transit System Alcohol-Ad Free
California-based Alcohol Justice, and North Carolina-based US Alcohol Policy Alliance, are asking the Board of Directors of the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to keep placing positive public health & safety benefits over the questionable revenue gains that might be derived from allowing alcohol ads on the DC Metro.
ITV News (UK) - Research supports increasing alcohol duty
New research into alcohol consumption shows increasing duty helps decrease the amount of alcohol people drink. Studies show, raising alcohol prices has the biggest impact on heavy drinkers and young people binge drinking.
ITV News (UK) - Alcohol involved in half of domestic violence cases
Alcohol is a contributing factor in almost one incident of domestic violence a day in Jersey. A report has been released showing the amount of crimes that have been committed in the island where the offender has been drinking.
International Business Times AU (Australia) - Drug and alcohol use in the workplace costs billions to Australian businesses: Allianz
A range of experts recently came together in the Allianz workers compensation seminar to reveal the impact of drug and alcohol use in the workplace of Australian businesses. The seminar heard that the use of alcohol and drugs in the workplace cost billions of dollars to different businesses in the nation.
Astana Times (Kazakstan) - Domestic Alcohol Excise Taxes to Increase by 15 Percent
The Kazakh Mazhilis (lower house of Parliament) approved on Nov. 11 changes made by the Senate to the Law “On amendments and additions to some legislative acts of Kazakhstan on the issues of taxation and customs administration.” The law has been sent to the President for his signature.
Iceland Monitor (Iceland) - Majority oppose freeing up alcohol sales
A majority of Icelanders oppose allowing the sale of alcohol in retail food stores, according to a new opinion poll.
Glasgow Evening Times (UK) - Alcohol related deaths in Glasgow fall to lowest level in decades
ALCOHOL related deaths in Glasgow have fallen to their lowest level in almost 20 years, figures show. The city's annual progress report suggests inroads are being made in the battle against the most serious cases of alcohol abuse.
Scotsman - Scotland leading way in battle against alcohol abuse
Scotland is leading the UK in its approach to tackling the country’s chronic alcohol problems, a report by health experts has found.
Medical Xpress (EU) - Experts call for action on the crippling socio-economic costs of alcohol
Europe is the heaviest drinking region of the world, with consumption levels in some countries approximately twice the global average. Alcohol is the world's No. 1 risk factor for poor health and premature death among the 25-59 year age group, the core of the working age population.

Sunday, November 15, 2015

FASD News - 45/2015

The Age (Australia) - Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: 'Hidden' problem is more pervasive than we thought
Everyone, it seems, gets a say in the alcohol debate except the unborn child. Monday's Four Corners program highlighted the need for all of us to consider the lifelong impact of environmental exposures in the womb and to ensure that the developing child has the best possible start to life.
International Business Times AU (Australia) - Child health expert calls for federal intervention to curb alcohol during pregnancy
A child health expert has called for stricter taxes on alcohol by the federal government to fight hidden and long-term illnesses that are related to alcohol and pregnancy. A number of conditions expressed as Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) arise in children whose mothers drink during pregnancy.
Clarence Valley Daily Examiner (Australia) - Prisons’ foetal alcohol disorder blind spot
THE NSW prison system admits it does not diagnose foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in either the adult or juvenile justice system.
Stuff.co.nz (New Zealand) - Mothers' guilt - the harm of drinking while pregnant
Like all mothers, Anne Russell and Claire Holland love their children dearly. However both women live with the knowledge their actions during pregnancy resulted in their children struggling with life.
ABC Online (Australia) - NT Government yet to act on eight month-old fetal alcohol report
It was handed a report on how to deal with foetal alcohol disorder eight months ago. But the Northern Territory Government is yet to act on a single recommendation.
The Telegraph (UK) - Pregnant women could be advised to drink no alcohol under new NHS guidelines
The UK's chief medical officer is considering lowering the safe level of alcohol consumption and advising pregnant women not to drink at all.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Estonia - Avatud konverents: raseduseaegse alkoholi mõju lootele (November 25, 2015)

MATERIALS and VIDEOS
POPFASD - Carmen Rasmussen - Edmonton MILE
Dr Carmen Rasmussen speaks about a study, conducted in Edmonton, that measured the effectiveness of the Math Interactive Learning Experience (MILE) program in school and home settings.

RESEARCH
Neurotoxicology and Teratology - Low and moderate prenatal ethanol exposures of mice during gastrulation or neurulation delays neurobehavioral development
Human and animal studies show significant delays in neurobehavioral development in offspring after prolonged prenatal exposure to moderate and high ethanol doses resulting in high blood alcohol concentration (BECs).
Brain Sciences - Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: potential role of endocannabinoids signaling
One of the unique features of prenatal alcohol exposure in humans is impaired cognitive and behavioral function resulting from damage to the central nervous system (CNS), which leads to a spectrum of impairments referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research - Retrospective assessment of prenatal alcohol exposure by detection of phosphatidylethanol in stored dried blood spot cards: an objective method for determining prevalence rates of alcohol consumption during pregnancy
Detection of PEth from newborn DBS cards can identify prenatal alcohol exposure and also be used for retrospective surveillance of alcohol consumption during the last three to four weeks of pregnancy, using specimens that are collected for routine metabolic screening and stored by many state health departments.
Advances in Pediatric Research - Ethanol, Neurodevelopment, Infant and Child Health (ENRICH) prospective cohort: study design considerations
While intervention is the leading factor in reducing long-term disabilities in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), early identification of children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) remains challenging.
PLoS One - Fetal alcohol exposure reduces dopamine receptor D2 and increases pituitary weight and prolactin production via epigenetic mechanisms
Recent evidence indicated that alcohol exposure during the fetal period increases the susceptibility to tumor development in mammary and prostate tissues.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition - Choline supplementation in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are conditions characterized by physical anomalies, neurodevelopmental abnormalities, and neurocognitive deficits, including intellectual, executive, and memory deficits.

IN OTHER LANGUAGES
HABERTURK (Turkey) - Alkolü sizinle birlikte bebeğiniz de içiyor!
Yetişkinlere zararlı olan alkolün bebek de nasıl bir etki göstereceğini tahmin etmek zor olmasa gerek. Alkol annenin kanındaki düzeyle orantılı olarak anne sütüne geçebilmektedir.
Remscheider General-Anzeiger (Germany) - 30 Prozent der Schwangeren trinken Alkohol
Im Grunde sollte es allen klar und völlig selbstverständlich sein: Alkohol in der Schwangerschaft ist tabu. In der Realität sieht das anders aus. In Deutschland trinken bis zu 30 Prozent der werdenden Mütter während der Schwangerschaft.
Italiasalute.it (Italy) - Alcol in gravidanza, sì o no?
Bere o non bere alcol in gravidanza? È il dilemma di molte donne che aspettano un bambino. Un recente documento redatto dagli esperti dell'American Academy of Pediatrics (Aap) rivela che l'esposizione prenatale all'alcol è la principale causa evitabile di difetti alla nascita e disabilità intellettive.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Alcohol News - 45/2015

Irish Times (Ireland) - Call for licence suspension for motorists who fail alcohol or drugs test
A proposal that drivers involved in a fatal crash or who fail a breath test would automatically have their licence suspended can be considered under a review of road traffic legislation, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said.
The Guardian (UK) - Drink firms’ efforts to fight alcohol abuse ‘have not worked’
Reliance on voluntary action by alcohol firms to tackle drink-related harm has been a failure, a hard-hitting report warns. The “public health responsibility deal” unveiled during the last government has resulted in broken promises and too little being done to reduce problems such as underage drinking, the report concludes.
EN DELFI (Lithuania) - Petrol stations in Lithuania banned from selling alcohol
As of 1 January 2016, a provision of the Law on Alcohol Control will come into force, banning alcohol sale in the country's petrol stations.
The Independent - Countries that drink the most alcohol in the world revealed
In their latest report, the OECD showed in which countries people consumed the most alcohol for 2013, and compared it to the amount people consumed back in 2000.
Courier Mail (Australia) - Alcohol laws: Palaszczuk Government to restrict sale of takeaway alcohol
BOTTLESHOPS and venues applying to sell takeaway liquor past 10pm will have their applications rejected as part of the Palaszczuk Government’s crackdown on alcohol-fuelled violence.
EurekAlert - Tighter local alcohol licensing curbs linked to fewer drink-related hospital admissions
Tighter local alcohol licensing curbs are linked to fewer drink-related hospital admissions in these areas, reveals research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
The West Australian (Australia) - Rise in alcohol-related injuries among children
More children are being admitted to WA hospitals with alcohol-related injuries after drinking, with a particular rise in wounds from violence among boys and girls, research reveals.
Medical Xpress - Sports jerseys exposing children to junk food, alcohol and gambling
To adults they may seem fairly innocuous, however the sponsor logos that adorn the jerseys of professional sports people could be increasing children's awareness of junk food, alcohol and gambling.
The West Australian - Alcohol in moderation belief flawed: academic
The widely accepted belief that a small amount of alcohol is good for you is based on flawed studies and should be urgently withdrawn, an analysis of the research has revealed.
EurActiv (EU) - Commission delays report on alcohol labelling – again
The European Commission has again delayed the publication of a report on how to include alcoholic drinks under existing EU labelling rules on nutrition and ingredients.
Dutch News (Netherlands) - New Dutch healthy diet guidelines say don’t drink alcohol at all
The Dutch health council is recommending that people abstain from alcohol altogether or drink no more than one glass per day.
Science Nordic - Study: Alcohol does not have any health benefits
Large study casts doubt on the health benefits of alcohol. It might be necessary to cut alcohol completely to lower risk of heart disease.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Alcohol News - 44/2015

Economic Times (India) - Excise department to launch drive against bars serving alcohol to under-21 youngsters
Teenagers are going to find it harder to enter pubs and bars in the city, with the excise department preparing to launch a drive this month against what has been taken for granted so far.
vtdigger.org - NEW REPORT EMPHASIZES 049: ZERO ALCOHOL FOR NINE MONTHS OF PREGNANCY
Two years ago, the Vermont Department of Health launched an informational outreach campaign called ‘049’ that asked women and health care providers to become more aware of how alcohol can cause health problems for babies.
Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) - Breath testing: Could alcohol interlocks be fitted to all Australian vehicles?
Australia's peak road safety body has called for alcohol interlocks to be fitted to every vehicle in Australia, requiring all drivers to sit a breath test each time they turn the ignition, to dramatically cut the high rate of alcohol-related road deaths.
BT.com (UK) - Most women 'unaware' of breast cancer risks linked to alcohol or obesity
Most women undergoing checks for breast cancer are unaware that drinking alcohol or obesity increases their risk of the disease, a poll has found.
Daily Mail (USA) - Silent 'epidemic' of suicide, drug and alcohol abuse has triggered 'shocking' rise in death rates among middle-aged, white Americans
A silent 'epidemic' of deaths from suicides, drug and alcohol poisoning has triggered a sharp rise in death rates among middle-aged, white Americans.
ABC Online (Australia) - Tests for Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder could be used in WA court system
West Australian courts look set to be given access to screening for brain damage and developmental delays caused by Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
Irish Examiner (Ireland) - Alcohol bottles to carry labels warning pregnant women of drink dangers
Health Minister Leo Varadkar plans to impose a number of mandatory warnings and information labels on drinks under the new legislation, which will be among the most far-reaching laws in Europe.
Medical Daily - Cigarettes And Alcohol: Science Finally Figures Out Why We Like To Smoke When We Drink
Only smoke when you drink? You’re not alone. Despite the rate of regular tobacco users decreasing, the number of self-confessed “social smokers” is on the rise, particularly among young women.
New York Post (USA) - New York City makes it easy to deny you have a drinking problem
Jon, a documentary filmmaker in Greenwich Village, got so drunk on vodka a few years ago, he picked up the girlfriend of his friend’s boss outside a bar, spun her around and nearly cracked her head on the sidewalk when he dropped her.
Peru this Week - In Latin America, one out of every four bottles of alcohol is illegal
Last year the World Health Organization (WHO) found that as a region, South America is the second-highest consumer of alcohol in the world (second to Eastern Europe).

Sunday, November 1, 2015

FASD News - 43/2015

MedPage Today - AAP: Any Alcohol Exposure in Pregnancy Is Risky for Baby
Because children exposed to any amount of alcohol during pregnancy are at risk for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), the American Academy of Pediatrics reaffirmed its recommendation that no amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy.
630ched.com (Canada) - Campaigns hopes to lower FASD
A new campaign was launched in Edmonton today, aimed at helping expectant mothers stop drinking alcohol during pregnancy. The creators say “Here for Her” is a non-judgmental way of convincing pregnant women not to endanger their babies.
ABC Online (Australia) - Screening for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder could impact level of youth crime, experts say
Screening juveniles for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) could help break the cycle of youth crime, leading paediatricians and youth justice workers say.
The Australian (Australia) - Alcohol-damaged kids with FASD winding up in prison
Ask teachers at Perth’s juvenile jail how many of their students display the telltale signs of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder and they invariably say: “Most of them.”
The Manitoban (Canada) - Mentorship Program Helps At-Risk Pregnant Women, Report Finds
The Manitoba Centre for Health Policy at the University of Manitoba recently released an analysis of the InSight Mentoring Program, a provincial program intended to help prevent the development of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
eNewsChannels (USA) - Helping families facing FASD and RAD, Ranch for Kids awarded re-licensure by State of Montana
The Ranch for Kids, a therapeutic program bringing hope and healing to families facing FASD and RAD, announced today that it is again fully licensed by the State of Montana.
CapeCod.com News - When Pregnant Women Drink, Their Babies Do Too
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a press release recently that one in 10 pregnant women reported drinking alcohol in the past 30 days.
STLtoday.com (USA) - Fetal alcohol syndrome should be considered in death penalty case
Ernest Johnson is scheduled to die by lethal injection on Nov. 3, but has documented intellectual disability (IQ of 67) and fetal alcohol syndrome. The death penalty in this case is prohibited by the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in Atkins v. Virginia 536 U.S. 304 (2002).
University of Texas at Austin News (USA) - NIH Grant Seeks Early Intervention to Prevent Fetal Exposure to Alcohol, Marijuana, and Tobacco
A $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health will help researchers at The University of Texas at Austin’s School of Social Work test a health intervention to reduce fetal exposure to alcohol, marijuana and tobacco during early pregnancy.
Irish Independent (Ireland) - No alcohol is best for mums-to-be
That is the latest warning from two eminent medics, echoing advice from the Department of Health here.
NPR - Why Do People Get So Bent Out Of Shape About Drinking While Pregnant?Women shouldn't drink when they're pregnant — absolutely no alcohol at all, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. But it's been getting a lot of pushback about that edict.

MATERIALS and VIDEOS
CPI - How to Help Someone Who Has a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Because of the nature of their disability, individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) have very specific needs. CPI’s Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® training program is relevant for those supporting individuals with FASD, and there are specific considerations and possible adaptations for making your training as applicable as possible to this very unique group.
KFOR.com - The debate is over! How much alcohol can women really drink while pregnant?
If your doctor has ever told you that small amounts of alcohol are safe to drink during pregnancy, a new report is proving them wrong.

RESEARCH
Neuroscience - Prenatal exposure to ethanol stimulates hypothalamic CCR2 chemokine receptor system: possible relation to increased density of orexigenic peptide neurons and ethanol drinking in adolescent offspring
Clinical and animal studies indicate that maternal consumption of ethanol during pregnancy increases alcohol drinking in the offspring. Possible underlying mechanisms may involve orexigenic peptides, which are stimulated by prenatal ethanol exposure and themselves promote drinking.
Neuroscience - Prenatal alcohol exposure and prenatal stress differentially alter glucocorticoid signaling in the placenta and fetal brain
Adverse intrauterine environments increase vulnerability to chronic diseases across the lifespan. The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which integrates multiple neuronal signals and ultimately controls the response to stressors, may provide a final common pathway linking early adversity and adult diseases.
International Journal of Law and Psychiatry - Prenatal alcohol exposure: an assessment strategy for the legal context
Studies over the last two decades have shown that people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have the kind of brain damage that increases risk of criminal behavior.
Neural Regeneration Research - Neurotoxicity of prenatal alcohol exposure on medullary pre-Bötzinger complex neurons in neonatal rats
Prenatal alcohol exposure disrupts the development of normal fetal respiratory function, but whether it perturbs respiratory rhythmical discharge activity is unclear.
Medical Hypotheses - Could a first-trimester blood phosphatidylethanol concentration >/= 4nM be useful to identify women with moderate-to-heavy prenatal alcohol exposure who are at high risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes?
It is accepted that blood phosphatidylethanol (PEth) concentrations are reliable biomarkers of ethanol (alcohol) exposure. We therefore conducted a preliminary study to test the hypothesis that elevated blood PEth concentrations can help to identifying women with prenatal alcohol exposure who are at higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Pediatrics - Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
Prenatal exposure to alcohol can damage the developing fetus and is the leading preventable cause of birth defects and intellectual and neurodevelopmental disabilities. In 1973, fetal alcohol syndrome was first described as a specific cluster of birth defects resulting from alcohol exposure in utero.
Alcohol and Alcoholism - The economic burden of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Canada in 2013
FASD is a significant public health and social problem that consumes resources, both economic and societal, in Canada. Many of the costs could be reduced with the implementation of effective social policies and intervention programs.
Pharmacological Research - Epigenetic mechanisms: a possible link between autism spectrum disorders and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
The etiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) still remains unclear and seems to involve a considerable overlap between polygenic, epigenetic and environmental factors.
Applied Neuropsychology: Child - Cognitive and adaptive skill profile differences in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder with and without comorbid fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) often present with comorbid attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which can complicate diagnosis and treatment planning.
BMC Health Services Research - Integrating care for individuals with FASD: results from a multi-stakeholder symposium
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) has a significant impact on communities and systems such as health, education, justice and social services. FASD is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that results in permanent disabilities and associated service needs that change across affected individuals' lifespans.

IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Telegraaf.nl (Netherland) - 'Eén glaasje heeft al effect op kind'
Uit nieuw onderzoek van de American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) blijkt dat als er gedronken wordt in het eerste semester er 12 keer zoveel kans is op Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) waardoor kinderen risico lopen op leer- en ontwikkelingsachterstanden.
Brasil Post (Brasil) - Gestantes não devem beber uma só gota de álcool -- e em qualquer fase da gravidez
Não há quantidade de álcool segura a ser consumida durante a gravidez. Essa é a nova recomendação da Academia Americana de Pediatria, baseada em estudo publicado no periódico científico Pediatrics.
BimbiSaniBelli (Italy) - L’alcol in gravidanza è un rischio per lo sviluppo del feto
L’alcol è una sostanza tossica in grado di oltrepassare la placenta e raggiungere il feto alle stesse concentrazioni con cui è stato assunto dalla madre, mettendone in pericolo lo sviluppo