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Thursday, May 30, 2019

Alcohol News - 22/2019


Irish Examiner (Ireland) - Public Health chief says alcohol laws should limit licenced premises
The Director of Public Health for the south of Ireland has said future alcohol laws should look to restrict the number of new licenced premises in problem drinking areas.
Metro (UK) - Over 24,000,000 Brits ‘self-medicate with alcohol and drugs to cope with life’
Nearly half of Brits self-medicate by using drugs, alcohol and sex to cope with mental health symptoms, according to a new study.
ERR News (Estonia) - Bill lowering alcohol excise duty submitted to Riigikogu
Chairman of the Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE) parliamentary group Siim Pohlak submitted a bill on behalf of the ruling three-party coalition to the Riigikogu on Monday that would lower the excise duty on strong alcohol, beer and cider in Estonia by 25 percent as of July 1.
ERR News (Latvia) - Latvia planning tit-for-tat alcohol excise cut
Following Monday's announcement that a bill to reduce excise duty on alcoholic drinks was to be put to the Riigikogu, Latvia has followed suit in announcing its own proposed excise duty cuts.
ERR News (Finland) - Finland to follow suit in responding to planned Estonian excise cuts
The Finnish Grocery Trade Association and alcohol producers said that Estonia's plan to lower the excise duties on beer, cider and spirits, ostensibly to curb cross-border trade between it and Latvia, requires an immediate response.
NordAN (Estonia/Latvia/Finland) - NordAN urge governments to cooperate on alcohol policy
The situation around cross-border trade in the Nordic and Baltic region is creating worrying developments which caused NordAN to send an open letter to the ministers and party leaders of Finland, Estonia and Latvia, as well as to the media in the region.
Occupational Health and Safety (Canada) - Health Canada Restricts Alcohol Content of Flavored Purified Beverages
Flavored purified alcoholic beverages are a new and growing class of beverages in Canada that pose an increasing public health risk, especially to younger Canadians, Health Canada reports.
The Scotsman (Scotland) - No amount of alcohol safe to consume during pregnancy, say Scots scientists
A team of researchers including experts from the University of Aberdeen, have taken a major step forward in understanding how expectant mothers’ consumption of alcohol affects foetal brain development.
FRANCE 24 (Norway) - Norwegian pension fund ditches alcohol, gambling and pornography
The largest pension fund in Norway announced Tuesday it was blacklisting companies profiting from alcohol, gambling and pornography, and said it was divesting shares in well-known companies like Carlsberg and William Hill.
Truth Daily Mirror - Intake Of Strong Alcohol Results In Regressing Brain Growth
A study was published on April 1, 2019, in the journal eNeuro which suggested that heavy intake of alcohol reduces the brain growth rate by 0.25 ml every year. In layman language, four beers per day is responsible for such impairment of brain growth.
Helsinki Times (Finland) - THL: Finland has avoided dreaded effects of new alcohol act, so far
NO MAJOR CHANGES have been observed in alcohol consumption following the adoption of a new alcohol act in Finland in April 2018.
The Shout (Australia) - Australian alcohol consumption continues downward trend
The latest findings from Roy Morgan’s Alcohol Consumption Currency Report March 2019, has shown a decline in the percentage of the Australian population aged 18 and over who consume at least one type of alcoholic drink in an average four week period.
CapeTown ETC (South Africa) - Cape considers increasing cost of alcohol to curb drinking
With one of the world’s highest alcohol consumption levels, South Africa rivals countries around the world known for their drinking. This has prompted the Western Cape Government into considering new ways to curb binge drinking, including introducing a minimum unit price (MUP).
Brno Daily (Czech) - Czech Government To Raise Taxes On Cigarettes, Hard Alcohol, and Gambling
On Monday, Czech Finance Minister Alena Schillerová announced on Twitter that: “The government has just approved a long-awaited Tariff package for tobacco, hard alcohol, and gambling taxation by the Ministry of Health and the National Drug Coordinator. It responds to the increase in their availability as a result of rising living standards in the Czech Republic.”
Tasmania Examiner (Australia) - Alcohol and gambling advertising a blight on sport
When it comes to hitting the nail on the head, Dr Oulmann Zerhouni could have a tidy sideline as a carpenter.
Medscape - A&E Perspective: Calling Time on Alcohol-Related Harms
Prior to the on-going concerns regarding large tax bills due to the incredibly complex arrangements around NHS pensions and tapered annual allowances, I regularly did extra shifts at a major trauma centre (MTC), to maintain my skills in the management of major trauma.
NHS England (UK) - We must ACT on drink-related harm
As part of the NHS Long Term Plan Prevention Focus Week, the Centre Director for Public Health England North East looks at the need to tackle alcohol dependency: It’s fair to say that alcohol dependency causes a great deal of ill health.
NordAN - GAPA: promoting the idea of the Framework Convention on Alcohol Control
The Global Alcohol Strategy is getting close to its end and next steps and developments are currently discussed in different settings. Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA) is right in the middle of it and we turned to Øystein Bakke, GAPA´s Secretary to ask more about the situation and global advocacy work.

Sunday, May 26, 2019

FASD News - 21/2019


Nunatsiaq News (Canada) - We can’t determine FASD prevalence, Nunavut government says
The Government of Nunavut still can’t generate numbers on the prevalence of FASD within the territory’s population, a spokesperson for the GN’s Department of Health told Nunatsiaq News this week.
The BMJ (Scotland) - NICE plans new standard for fetal alcohol disorders
A quality standard on fetal alcohol disorders is set to be developed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The announcement came as a charity’s report showed that clinical commissioning groups are failing to commission services for people with neurodevelopmental disorders arising from exposure to alcohol in the womb.
The BMJ (Scotland) - NICE plans new standard for fetal alcohol disorders
Alcohol during pregnancy, the commonest cause of preventable mental impairment in Western countries, is enduringly underestimated, although not by the National Organisation for Foetal Alcohol Syndrome-UK.
Calgary Herald (Canada) - Opinion: Pushing progress for treating fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Recently, the Calgary Herald published an important series on the realities facing individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. This series, researched and written by Vanessa Hrvatin, shone a light on a developmental disability that affects over a million Canadians, and yet is often overlooked, misdiagnosed and misunderstood.
Stuff.co.nz (New Zealand) - Beautiful tributes at funeral of FASD sufferer who died in mental health unit
Last week, a young man living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is suspected of committing suicide at a mental health unit despite red flags being raised with staff. His foster parents are angry with the government, and are calling for change. Matthew Rosenberg reports.
The Swaddle - Kids Exposed In Utero to Alcohol Show Altered Brain Structure Years Later
A new study has found that teenagers who were exposed to alcohol while in the womb showed altered brain connections that impair their cognitive performance.
Bury Times (UK) - 1,000 children a year brain damaged by alcohol in the womb in Greater Manchester
A THOUSAND children are born a year with brain damage in Greater Manchester because their mums drank while expecting – now health bosses have launched a pilot to end the "hidden epidemic".
Rochdale Online (UK) - Campaign launched to prevent unborn children being harmed by alcohol
A new initiative is being launched in Greater Manchester to prevent children being left with life-long health problems because of the effects alcohol can have during pregnancy.

UPCOMING
Konferencja "FASD - wiele aspektów, wielu specjalistów, wspólne cele" (September 9-10, 2019
Poland)
Mamy zaszczyt zaprosić na bezpłatną ogólnopolską konferencję naukową „FASD - wiele aspektów, wielu specjalistów, wspólne cele”, która odbędzie się w Krakowie 9 i 10 września. Organizatorem jest Wojewódzki Specjalistyczny Szpital Dziecięcy im. św. Ludwika w Krakowie. Konferencja realizowana ze środków Narodowego Programu Zdrowia na lata 2016-2020.
EYPD - Understanding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder –Strategies for Success (Sep 7, 2019 Vancouver, Canada)
This presentation contains a general overview of the cause of FASD, its primary and secondary characteristics, and possible advantages of early diagnosis and intervention.

VIDEOS and MATERIALS
GMHSC Partnership - Go alcohol free, no risk of FASD #DRYMESTER
More than 1,000 children are born each year in Greater Manchester with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, having been exposed to alcohol in the womb.
AlcoholFreePregnancy - NOFAS Mourns the Passing of Circle of Hope “Warrior Mom” LaShaunda Harris
NOFAS is saddened to report that the Washington state coordinator of the NOFAS Circle of Hope, LaShaunda Harris, recently passed away.
LetsTalkFASDak - FASD: This could happen to any of us
What FASDs are, who they affect, how common FASDs are in Alaska and how to prevent them.
Coast to Coast Events - Living with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Bridgeway Family Homes - FASD Treatment Homes Pt 2 November 2018
Bridgeway In-Service Training with Amanda Alton-Rawn
Addiction Centre - Pregnant Women and Alcohol
A pregnant mother’s excessive drinking can cause her child severe health problems that follow him or her into adulthood.
Manitoba FASD Coalition - Changing the Conversation: the 2019 CNFASD Partnership Symposium Final Report has arrived!
Take a look at the 2019 CNFASD Partnership Symposium Final Report HERE!

RESEARCH
SFU - Family Navigation as a Model of Care: Moving Beyond the Barriers
This capstone explores the disability landscape in British Columbia, Canada through a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) lens mapping out why a Family Navigation model of care could facilitate access to and potential development of needed resources and services for families with children with FASD.
Journal of family nursing - “I’m Doing My Part, I Just Need Help From the Community”: Intervention Implications of Foster and Adoptive Parents’ Experiences Raising Children and Young Adults With FASD
Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have high rates of health care service utilization. It is vital that health care professionals understand FASD and associated family experiences to strengthen their ability to respond to family needs and tailor family-focused interventions.
Current Opinion in Psychiatry - Recent advances in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder for mental health professionals
Developments in genetics, epigenetics, imaging, and interventions are relevant to the current knowledge of FASD. MHP are encouraged to recognize the importance of understanding unique considerations for this population, including forensic implications and the whole-body impacts of FASD, which could assist in reducing stigma and improving quality of care.
Archives of Disease in Childhood - G215(P) Identifying facial features associated with prenatal alcohol exposure in newborn infants using 2D and 3D imaging
To compare 2D and 3D photography using computerised analysis for earlier detection of craniofacial changes in newborn infants with and without prenatal alcohol exposure.
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research - Global DNA Methylation and Histone Posttranslational Modifications in Human and Nonhuman Primate Brain in Association with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
Based upon experimental animal studies, the neurodevelopmental abnormalities associated with prenatal alcohol exposure (PNAE)/fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) have been attributed, at least in part, to epigenetic modifications.
University of Brighton - Prenatal alcohol exposure, biomarkers and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is the term used to describe neurobehavioral disorders associated with prenatal alcohol exposure ranging from the most severe Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) with facial dysmorphology, through partial Fetal alcohol syndrome (pFAS) to alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD).
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - Community Perceptions of Alcohol Exposed Pregnancy Prevention Program for American Indian and Alaska Native Teens
A community needs assessment during a tribally-led Changing High-Risk Alcohol Use and Increasing Contraception Effectiveness Study (CHOICES) intervention highlighted the need to reduce the risk for alcohol exposed pregnancy (AEP) among American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) adolescent girls.
BMC Pediatrics - Prenatal alcohol exposure and infant gross motor development: a prospective cohort study
We found no evidence to suggest that low PAE is associated with measurable impairment in infant GM development at 12-months. Further research is needed to examine potential PAE impacts on GM development in heavier exposure groups and through the childhood years when subtle GM deficits may be more detectable.
International journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - Partnering with the Health Professions to Promote Prevention of an Alcohol-Exposed Pregnancy: Lessons Learned from an Academic–Organizational Collaborative
Evidence-based strategies exist to train healthcare professionals to ask their patients and clients about alcohol use, and are successful. Implementation of these strategies utilizing a system-level approach has not been conducted nationwide.
Alcohol - Maternal Choline Supplementation Mitigates Alcohol-Induced Fetal Cranio-Facial Abnormalities Detected Using an Ultrasonographic Examination in A Sheep Model
Early detection of prenatal alcohol exposure is critical for designing and testing effectiveness of interventional therapeutics. Choline supplementation during and after prenatal alcohol exposure has shown promising benefits in improving outcomes in rodent models and clinical studies.
Brain research - Glucocorticoid receptor expression in the stress-limbic circuitry is differentially affected by prenatal alcohol exposure and adolescent stress
The dense expression of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) within the amygdala, medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN) mediates many aspect of emotional and stress regulation.
Archives of Disease in Childhood - G195 Novel techniques for the analysis of face-brain morphology in babies and adolescents with prenatal alcohol exposure (PNAE)
Identifying facial dymorphia, structural brain anomalies and the relations between them and cognition is important as it could ultimately help determine the extent of neuro-structural damage caused by in utero alcohol exposure, allowing identification of risk groups and improving earlier diagnosis.
Archives of Disease in Childhood - G194 Identifying the pattern and prevalence of alcohol consumption in pregnancy
Alcohol consumption in pregnancy has adverse consequences for the developing fetus, but is typically under-reported. Measuring alcohol metabolites in infant meconium has potential to identify prenatal alcohol exposure; local pilot data indicated an incidence of significant alcohol consumption in pregnancy of 15%.
University of Western Australia - Young people in detention in Western Australia: An examination of motor skills and the effect of prenatal alcohol exposure
This thesis assessed and characterised the motor performance of young people with a suspected high prevalence of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE) and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASO) residing in a Western Australian youth detention centre.

IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Terre Marsicane (Italy) - Alcol in gravidanza. Un fattore di rischio per lo sviluppo della FAS
Durante la gravidanza, se la gestante abusa di bevande alcoliche, nel feto può svilupparsi la malattia nota come Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, ovvero la sindrome alcolica fetale (FAS) caratterizzata da numerose anomalie fisiche, mentali e comportamentali.
Casteddu on Line (Italy) - Fetopatia alcolica, la legge rimasta lettera morta in Sardegna. Il M5s: 40mila sardi alcolisti, tante donne
In Sardegna si contano (dati Istati 2010) circa 40.000 alcolisti, di cui la metà sono donne per la maggior parte in età fertile. Sono circa 650 gli aborti da abuso alcolico non diagnosticati definiti spontanei nelle cartelle ospedaliere e 65 le fetopatie alcoliche caratterizzate da sindromi fenotipiche variabili e ritardo mentale grave.
theseus.fi (Finland) – FASD-OIREYHTYMÄ Opas Rovaniemen neuvoloiden odottaville äideille
FASD tarkoittaa sikiöaikaisen alkoholialtistuksen oireyhtymiä. FASD sisältää neljä eri diagnoosia, joissa kaikissa on omat oireensa.

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Alcohol News - 21/2019


Metro - Giving up alcohol at 24 hasn’t been a life sentence – it has set me free
From the age of 12 it stripped me of my dignity, dreams and self-respect. All it gave me was the constant inability to show up for the life I deserved, and it’s taken me over 10 years to see this.
RTE.ie (Ireland) - One in five adults classified as a hazardous drinker – report
Ireland needs to examine and assess its deep-rooted cultural norm relating to alcohol, according to a Drinkaware survey, which shows that more than one in five adults are classified as a hazardous drinker.
The New York Times - How Much Alcohol Can You Drink Safely?
Humans have been drinking fermented concoctions since the beginning of recorded time. But despite that long relationship with alcohol, we still don’t know what exactly the molecule does to our brains to create a feeling of intoxication.
The Guardian - How cleaning helped me rebuild what alcohol had ruined
If you’ve ever done a real detox off drugs and alcohol to get clean, the whole notion of cleaning your flat as a way to some sort of psychological Nirvana seems suspect. Yet this is exactly what the new cleaning gurus, like Marie Kondo, Mrs Hinch (2.4m Instagram fans and counting) and Lynsey “Queen of Clean” Crombie, would have us believe.
Stuff.co.nz (New Zealand) - Alcohol is a factor in at least a third of all homicide cases
Alcohol fuelled a fight between Ngaire Tukiwaho and her partner. But her 1-month-old son was the ultimate victim. Brad Flahive examines the connection between booze and homicide for The Homicide Report.
The Drum (USA) - Alcohol advertisers warned of possible court action for flouting rules
Alcohol brands are being warned that they must be ready to face potential court action for conveying irresponsible messages to consumers through advertising, including the inadvertent targeting of underage drinkers.
Cyprus Mail (Cyprus) - Cypriot teens consume more alcohol than EU counterparts
Cyprus minors consume a lot of alcohol compared with those in other European countries, and little is done to regulate the sale of alcohol to those under the age of 18, the secondary-school parents association said on Tuesday.
The Guardian (UK) - Britons get drunk more often than 35 other nations, survey finds
Drinkers in the UK get drunk more than any other nation in the world, findings from a global survey suggest.
EURACTIV (EU) - Romania torpedoes EU deal on alcohol excise duties over moonshine
Member states clashed on the reform of alcohol excise duties during a meeting of EU financial ministers last Friday (17 May), as the Romanian Presidency of the EU tried to raise the maximum limit on home distillation, in pursuit of its own national interest.
The Bolton News (UK) - 1,000 children a year brain damaged by alcohol in the womb in Greater Manchester
A THOUSAND children are born a year with brain damage in Greater Manchester because their mums drank while expecting – now health bosses have launched a pilot to end the "hidden epidemic".
HUB (USA) - Majority of campus alcohol policies fail to receive 'most effective' rating from experts
Alcohol policy experts and researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who evaluated common university alcohol policies found that fewer than half of the approaches for reducing problematic alcohol consumption rated as "most effective."
The BMJ - Helen Salisbury: Alcohol excess—time for new measures?
In a recent issue of The BMJ I was struck by two articles on the same theme: when industries make money from selling products that cause harm, can we expect them to contribute meaningfully to improving public health? One covered the World Health Organization’s recent instruction to its staff not to engage with the alcohol industry when developing public health policy and to warn governments against such collaboration.
MDEdge (UK) - More than 40% of U.K. physicians report binge drinking
Occupational distress among physicians is tied to increased odds of substance use, sleep disturbance, binge eating, and poor health in general, a cross-sectional study of 417 U.K. doctors shows.
Automotive News (USA) - Devote more r&d to prevent drunken driving
While many new and emerging issues grab headlines, drunken driving is still the leading cause of highway deaths.

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Alcohol News - 20/2019


The New York Times (USA) - Women, Alcohol and Perceived ‘Sexual Availability’
When Brock Turner, the former Stanford swimmer who was found guilty in 2016 of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman on campus, appealed his conviction, he and his lawyers devoted 60 pages to how intoxicated the victim seemed. He lost the appeal.
Medical News Today - Why might smoking and drinking alcohol raise the risk of osteoporosis?
Recent research has uncovered a cell mechanism that could help explain why smoking, alcohol, and other modifiable factors could raise the risk of developing the bone disease osteoporosis.
Medical News Today - Global alcohol intake has increased by 70%, study warns
A large new study published in The Lancet found that, across the globe, rates of individual alcohol consumption have soared. This, the authors warn, is a dangerous pattern that policymakers must address.
The Guardian (UK) - One in five harmed by others drinking alcohol over past year, survey finds
One in five people in England have been harmed by others drinking alcohol over the past year, a survey has found.
ANSA (Italy) - Alcohol risk for 8.6 mn Italians, youth
Some 8.6 million Italians are at-risk consumers of alcohol, a new reports said Tuesday.
TheFix.com - Pin Project Helps Servers Tell People They're Abstaining From Alcohol
The pin initiative allows servers to nonverbally communicate to coworkers and patrons that they won’t be drinking during a shift.
NDTV - Is Drinking Alcohol In Moderation Good For The Heart? Study Says No
Alcohol drinkers often quote some scientific evidence and research studies that have suggested in the past that moderate alcohol consumption may actually offer protective benefits for the heart.
Irish Post (Ireland) - Irish drinkers 'consume twice as much alcohol as the global average'
IRELAND’S ANNUAL alcohol consumption continues to rise, despite notable decreases across the rest of Europe.
New Vision (Uganda) - Poverty, alcohol abuse tearing families apart, says minister
The challenges, she noted, have resulted in high crime rates, immoral behaviour, lawlessness, conflict, diseases, poverty, violence against children and high level of illiteracy.
The Local Germany (Germany) - German teenagers drinking less alcohol: Study
A study into the drinking habits of young people has revealed a continued decrease in regular alcohol consumption among German teenagers.
The Swaddle - Kids Exposed In Utero to Alcohol Show Altered Brain Structure Years Later
A new study has found that teenagers who were exposed to alcohol while in the womb showed altered brain connections that impair their cognitive performance.
The BMJ - Alcohol use: global target to reduce harm is likely to be missed as intake rises
The World Health Organization’s target to cut the harmful use of alcohol by 10% by 2025 is unlikely to be met, researchers have warned, after finding that the total volume consumed worldwide each year increased by 70% from 1990 to 2017.
IamExpat.nl (Netherlands) - Could an alcohol ban be coming to the canals of Amsterdam?
It may well be. A small majority of the municipal council has voted in favour of investigating whether or not it is possible to ban alcohol use on boats on the canals of Amsterdam.
British GQ - What happens if we all stop drinking?
For all the talk about millennials shunning drinking, it’s the generation below – the oldest of which are 24 – that abstain like never before. We ask the experts: what would happen if we all just... stopped?
Esperance Express (Australia) - 2019 Annual Alcohol Poll | Risky drinking a bigger problem in regional Australia
A higher percentage of Australians living in regional, rural and remote communities were engaging in risky drinking compared to their city counterparts and, in turn, were more concerned about the resulting harm.
Mirage News (Australia) - New report finds alcohol advertising is impossible to escape for Aussie kids
The regulation of alcohol marketing is so weak in Australia that alcohol advertisements are being seen on school buses, across from primary schools, and before children’s videos on YouTube, an analysis of complaints made to the Alcohol Advertising Review Board (AARB) has found.
BMJ Open (England) - Alcohol-related harm to others in England: a cross-sectional analysis of national survey data
This exploratory study, using data collected through the Alcohol Toolkit Survey, shows that AHTO affects 20.1% of the population of England. Even apparently minor harms, like being kept awake, can have a negative impact on health, while aggressive harms are clearly of concern.
Cancer.ie - Recently updated: Alcohol, Cancer and Your Health booklet
Did you know you can reduce your chance of getting cancer if you avoid alcohol or drink only a little?

Sunday, May 12, 2019

FASD News - 19/2019


National Post - Canadian study identifies five most vulnerable groups for FASD
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is substantially more prevalent for people in five vulnerable groups including children in care, Indigenous populations and people in prison, according to a global study by Canadian researchers.
Nunatsiaq News (Canada) - Yes, it’s possible to screen for FASD, experts say
An unknown number of Nunavut residents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, or FASD, are being denied the help they need, because territorial agencies do little screening or diagnosis and because no one has ever tried to pull together information that already exists on the disability’s prevalence.
Wadena Pioneer Journal - Fetal alcohol syndrome is 100% preventable
Are you between the ages of 18-35? Are you thinking about becoming pregnant? Even if you aren't planning on becoming pregnant, did you know 50% of pregnancies are unplanned? That means 50% of women who are pregnant were not expecting to be pregnant and may use alcohol in the early, most critical stage of a baby's development.
Daily Pioneer - No amount of alcohol safe during pregnancy: Study
Teenagers who are exposed to alcohol while in the womb exhibit altered brain connections consistent with impaired cognitive performance, according to a study.
Scottish Daily Record (Scotland) - The campaigning family with a personal interest in foetal alcohol syndrome
Maryelen and her husband Billy have six kids . . . three birth children and three they lovingly adopted. The birth mother’s heavy drinking during pregnancy left the three adoptive kids with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
Brinkwire - Not even one glass of wine a week is safe during pregnancy, study finds
No amount of alcohol is safe for women to drink while they’re pregnant, according to research. Drinking can harm the development of a baby’s brain in any quantity or at any stage during pregnancy, scientists found.
Microbioz India - Lifestyle factors affecting on reproductive function in male and female – A Complete Review
Infertility is a worldwide issue affecting 15-18% of couples globally, amounting more than 45 million couples. In the era of increasing awareness, many things are changing and already changed.
CanFASD Blog (Canada) - Guest blog: Thoughts on the FASD International Conference- Shelley More
I had the great fortune to attend 3 days of the International FASD Conference, Vancouver at the beginning of March thanks to the generous sponsorship of CanFASD.
CAMH - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder prevalence up to 40 times higher in some subpopulations worldwide
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) affects people from all racial, ethnic and sociological backgrounds. However a major new review of the world literature has found that FASD is 10 to 40 times higher in certain groups than the general population according to a study published by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in the journal Addiction.
HNGN - Understanding The Tragedy of Brain Damage at Birth
As citizens, we are accorded with rights to enable our mental and physical well-being. But there are thousands of unborn children who don't have such rights because they suffer at the hands of expectant mothers who risk their lives and well-being, by consuming alcohol and drugs through their pregnancies.
Change.org (Canada) - Parents of Children with FASD need support, access to services and funding.
FASD can be likened to having a child with Alzheimers. What they learn today, they may not even remember tomorrow.
Winnipeg Sun (Canada) - How these Winnipeg classrooms are rethinking lessons for kids with FASD
‘They’re just kids that are coming to school. They just want to be accepted and be successful.’
NOFASD Australia (Australia) - GOING FOR COFFEE: AN OBSTACLE COURSE OF STIMULUS
Picture an air filter. What does it do? It stops all the dust and bits from entering your home and filling your house and body with all sorts of things they don’t really need. I liken this to what happens when I get what always feels like an attack – an overload of sensory stimuli. My filter does not work like everyone else’s – like yours does, not unless you also have FASD.
Alomogordo Daily News - Criminalizing disability: Special needs kids who don’t get help in school are ending up in jail
It was right after the fifth-period bell last October that Sebastian Montano lay face down in the grass outside Alamogordo High School, screaming for his mother, as two police officers pinned him to the ground and thrust a Taser in his back.
AdoptionUK (UK) - FASD sufferers 'failed by clinicians' report finds
Sufferers of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) are being failed by clinicians according to a new report published today.

UPCOMING
CoramBAAF (UK) - Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD): what works for children? ONE DAY CONFERENCE (23 May 2019, London)
This conference provides an important opportunity to look at ‘what works’ for children with FASD. It aims to bring together people who are actively involved in parenting, caring for, and working with children with FASD to explore how they might best help families to successfully manage the disorder, meet the needs of affected children and support them to reach their full potential.
Graf Recke Stiftung (Germany) - Fetale Alkoholspektrum-Störung (FASD) (10.10.2019)
Dass Alkoholkonsum in der Schwangerschaft schädlich ist, ist bekannt. Dass Behinderungen, die daraus entstehen können, unter dem Terminus Fetale Alkoholspektrum-Störung (FASD) gefasst werden und Kinder nicht aus ihnen »herausgefördert« werden können, ist noch deutlich zu wenig bekannt.
NTIUPSTREAM - 2019 Webinar 2: Developing a Prenatal SBIRT System – An Ethical Approach to Prevention and Intervention - Live Webinar (May 14, 2019)
Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) is a proven strategy for improving pregnancy outcomes for women who are using a variety of substances.

VIDEOS and RESOURCES
fasd.org.pl (Poland) - Foundation Family fom A to Z
the Foundation works for FASD to Poland. We have working scientifically and clinically for children with FASD for many years.In Poland there is no systemic help for children, so after many years I decided to set up the 'Family from A to Z Foundation' that would work for children with FASD living in adoptive and foster families. The Foundation is active since 2017, and its work is backed up by clinical research made by prof. A. Urbanik and Teresa Jadczak-Szumiło PhD.
and
Bridgeway Family Homes - FASD Treatment Homes
Bridgeway In-Service Training with Amanda Rawn-Alton.
NOFAS-UK - My Brain, Me And FASD
A resource to help young people understand their FASD and emphasises coping strategies.
Obstetrics and gynecology guidelines - Fetal alcohol syndrome, alcohol in pregnancy
CDC (USA) – Vital Signs: Pregnancy-related deaths
Every pregnancy-related death is tragic, especially because about 60% are preventable. Still, about 700 women die each year from complications of pregnancy. A pregnancy-related death can happen during pregnancy, at delivery, and even up to a year afterward (postpartum).
CDC - An Alcohol-free pregnAncy is the best choice for your bAby.
The organizations and resources below can provide you with more information on FASDs, drinking and pregnancy, and how to get help if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant and cannot stop drinking.
Red Shoes Rock - 2019 Red Shoes Rock Kick Off
Looking to find the 2019 Artwork for your Red Shoe Rock Events and Swag – We can’t wait to see what you do with these – HAVE FUN if you need the original artwork for translation work email info@redshoesrock.com and we will help you.

RESEARCH
Addiction - Prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder among special subpopulations: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Global subpopulations of children in care, correctional, special education, specialized clinical and Aboriginal populations have a significantly higher prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder compared with the general population, which poses a substantial global health problem.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - Collaborative Action on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Prevention: Principles for Enacting the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action #33
The consensus statement provides guidance for developing community- and culture-led FASD prevention programs and highlights the importance of Indigenous knowledge systems in developing and researching FASD prevention in, and with, Indigenous communities.
Contemporary Justice Review - Aboriginal youth with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder and enmeshment in the Australian justice system: can an intercultural form of restorative justice make a difference?
Aboriginal youth with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) are overrepresented in the justice system. FASD results from prenatal alcohol exposure, and may lead to cognitive, social and behavioural difficulties that increase susceptibility to contact with the justice system.
Dartmouth College - Radial Migration and Pyramidal Neuron Form and Function in the Somatosensory Cortex of a Mouse Model of FASD
INSTITUTE OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES - Roles of very long chain fatty acids in pathophysiology of FASD
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are caused by prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). These children suffer from life-long learning and intellectual disabilities, and other behavioral deficits.
Simon Fraser University - An Evaluation of the Predictive Validity of the SAVRY and YLS/CMI in Justice-Involved Youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Despite the high prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in youth criminal justice settings, there is currently no research supporting the use of violence risk assessment tools in this population.
Issues in Mental Health Nursing - Nurses and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Prevention
This toolkit was designed for nurses to facilitate the recognition and prevention of FASD and address gaps that exists around alcohol use.
Health Research Policy and Systems - To what extent is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder considered in policy-related documents in South Africa? A document review
Although this study revealed the existence of targeted and generic clauses that could be attributed to the prevention and management of FASD, the sustained high prevalence of FASD in South Africa, as reported in the literature, calls for more holistic and comprehensive approaches to tackle the FASD problem in South Africa.
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research - Listening Difficulties in Children With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: More Than a Problem of Audibility
Children with FAS but not other FASDs may be at a particular risk for hearing loss. However, listening difficulties in the absence of hearing loss—presumably related to suprathreshold processing deficits—are prevalent across the entire fetal alcohol spectrum.
Birth defects research - Oxidative stress and DNA damage in the mechanism of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
This review covers molecular mechanisms involving oxidative stress and DNA damage that may contribute to morphological and functional developmental disorders in animal models resulting from exposure to alcohol (ethanol, EtOH) in utero or in embryo culture.
Clinical Archives of Communication Disorders - Articulation in children with fetal alcohol syndrome
Results suggest specific oral motor deficits contribute at least as much to communication disorder in young FAS speakers as possible phonetic-linguistic deficits.
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology - Glucocorticoid programming mechanism for hypercholesterolemia in prenatal ethanol-exposed adult offspring rats
Our previous studies showed that prenatal ethanol exposure (PEE) elevated blood total cholesterol (TCH) level in adult offspring rats. This study was aimed at elucidating the intrauterine programming mechanism of hypercholesterolemia in adult rats induced by PEE.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - Fetal Cerebral Artery Mitochondrion as Target of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
Prenatal alcohol exposure results in an array of developmental abnormalities known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Despite the high prevalence of FASDs, therapeutic interventions against accidental or intended exposure of developing fetuses to alcohol are limited.
Universite de Rennes - Environmental exposure during pregnancy. Views and attitudes of general practitioners
The exposure of pregnant women to toxic environmental agents can lead to serious damage to the woman as well as to the unborn child; this deserves particular attention from primary health care services.
Neuropeptides - Decreased behavioural and neurochemical effects of angiotensin IV following prenatal alcohol exposure in the mouse
This study aimed to explore a possible mechanism underlying the sex differences and the effects of PAE in male mice.
Preventive Medicine - Risk factors for alcohol use among pregnant women, ages 15–44, in the United States, 2002 to 2017
To prevent severe prenatal harm, health care providers should focus on women at higher risk for binge drinking during pregnancy: women with tobacco or drug use, alcohol use disorder, or depression, and women who are unmarried, Black, or of lower socioeconomic status.
Journal of Addiction Medicine - The Association Between Antenatal Maternal Self-reported Substance Use, Maternal Characteristics, and Obstetrical Variables
Substance use disorders during pregnancy are an often underestimated cause of maternal, fetal, and neonatal complications. Limited studies have examined the relationship between maternal characteristics and associated illicit or nonillicit drug use.

IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Nauka W Polsce (Poland) - W ciąży nie ma bezpiecznej ilości alkoholu
Dzieci, których matki spożywały alkohol w czasie ciąży, mają zaburzone działanie połączeń w mózgu. Naukowcy twierdzą, że dla płodu nie istnieje ani bezpieczny okres, w którym można pić, ani bezpieczna ilość etanolu.
Blogosfere (Italy) - Alcol in gravidanza: nessuna quantità è sicura
Durante la gravidanza, non esiste una quantità di alcol sicura da assumere. Questo è ciò che emerge da un nuovo studio pubblicato sulla rivista Chaos, dell’American Institute of Physics, i cui autori hanno scoperto che gli adolescenti che erano stati esposti all'alcol mentre erano nell'utero mostravano connessioni cerebrali alterate, associabili a una compromissione delle prestazioni cognitive.
El Medico Interactivo (Spain) - No hay cantidad segura de alcohol durante el embarazo
Las personas que estuvieron expuestos al alcohol en el útero fueron más propensos a tener problemas con las conexiones a través de su cuerpo calloso

Thursday, May 2, 2019

Alcohol News - 18/2019


The New York Times (USA) - New York Bans Alcohol Ads on Most City Property
Citing the health risk to young people and vulnerable populations, the city announced the ban that could lead to a loss of $3 million in yearly advertising fees.
EL PAÍS in English (Spain) - Cellphones and alcohol: a recipe for sexual harassment in Spain
It’s Saturday night in Madrid, and the area around Atocha station is buzzing with young people walking into or out of nearby nightclubs. Some of them are holding a can of beer, others a cigarette. Everyone has a cellphone in their hand.
The Wire (India) - How Alcohol and Tobacco Cause Poverty
The district of Gadchiroli has 1.2 million people, spread across 1,500 villages and three towns. A district sample survey we carried out in the years 2015 and 2016 showed that 41% of men had consumed alcohol in the past 12 months, spending a total of Rs 80 crore.
Body and Soul - The truth about how alcohol affects your body as you get older
There’s no denying Australians love a drink. But there’s only so much we can handle before our bodies start to suffer. A 2016 National Drug Strategy Household Survey found men in their 40s and women in their 50s are the most likely to drink at a problematic level.
Quinte News (Canada) - Alcohol related injuries locally top Ontario stats
Hastings Prince Edward Medical Officer of Health has concerns regarding the Ontario government’s move toward increased availability of alcohol.
Medical Xpress - Alcohol ads in sport fuel drinking culture
Repeated exposure to alcohol advertising in sport—either at venues or during media coverage of matches—can have long-term effects on drinking attitudes, according to a new international study.
HalifaxToday.ca (Canada) - Stricter alcohol regulations would protect public health, psychologist says
The Atlantic provinces have some of the least strict enforcements surrounding alcohol, says Kara Thomson, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish.
NY1 (USA) - The New Buzz is No Booze. Two City Bars Go Alcohol-Free.
The vibe at Listen Bar is typical of the city's bar scene. The lighting is mellow, the music is moving, and the drinks are flowing.
The Costa Rica News (Costa Rica) - Excessive Consumption of Alcohol by Youth at “Megafiestas” Is Alarming
Authorities of the Institute on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (IAFA), alert the families of the Region for the excessive consumption of alcohol by young people in the so-called “mega-parties”, parties in big houses and villages, among others.
The BMJ (UK) - PHE’s partnerships with gambling and alcohol industry-funded charities: time to put the cards on the table
Social determinants of health (such as income, social status, educational level, and physical or social environments) are firmly in the mainstream of health policy, exemplified by their inclusion in the government’s “Prevention is better than cure” policy paper.
The Local Switzerland (Switzerland) - Switzerland scraps blood alcohol limits for rubber boat captains
The changes have been made because it is “too difficult” to test the blood alcohol limit of people operating these types of vessels and because these non-motorized craft pose only a minimal risk, the government said in a statement.
Newcastle Herald (Australia) - CSIRO can't justify pro-alcohol research
Shocking revelations that Australia's publicly-funded scientific institution, the CSIRO, is in bed with the alcohol industry have been made in the prestigious British medical journal, The Lancet, by former CSIRO scientist, Dr Saul Newman.
Daily Mail (USA) - Rise in US pregnant women drinking alcohol: 1 in 9 occasionally drink and 4% binge-drink, CDC report says
The rate of women are drinking alcohol while pregnant has gone up in the United States, new data show.
Medical Xpress - No safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy, suggest researchers
An international group of researchers has taken one of the first major steps in finding the biological changes in the brain that drive fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
Longevity LIVE - The World Has A Drinking Problem Says WHO
The WHO (World Health Organization) says 283 million individuals are currently battling alcohol-use disorders and over 3 million people have died of alcohol-related diseases each year. Its annual global status report provides a general review of alcohol consumption and harms in relation to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (1). The report also describes what the world’s nations are doing to counter the growing burden of drinking-related diseases and deaths.
CTV News - Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder more prevalent in certain groups: study
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is more prevalent among some vulnerable populations, including orphans, inmates and Indigenous groups, according to a new Canadian-led study. The findings also reinforce the message that there is “no safe amount” of alcohol a pregnant woman can drink, researchers say.
Health Scotland (Scotland) - Minimum Unit Pricing for alcohol: one year on
Today marks the first anniversary of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) legislation coming into force in Scotland. Alcohol harm is a significant public health issue, and people in our poorest areas experience the most harm.