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Thursday, January 30, 2020

Alcohol News - 4/2020


The Independent - CONSUMING ALCOHOL DURING PREGNANCY CAN AFFECT BIRTH WEIGHT AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION, STUDY CONFIRMS
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to low birth weight and poor cognitive function, according to scientists.
BBC News (Scotland) - Alcohol off-sales fall in first year of minimum pricing
The amount of alcohol sold in Scotland's shops fell during the first year of minimum pricing but sales increased south of the border.
Medical Xpress - Making cancer risks clear boosts public support for higher alcohol prices
People who learn alcohol is a carcinogen—fewer than 25 percent of Canadians who consume alcohol are aware it can cause cancer—are almost two times more likely to support policies that raise the price of beer, wine and spirits.
Nursing Times (UK) - Reversal of alcohol duty cuts ‘would fund 40,000 nurses’
A group of leading health and care organisations has written to the chancellor calling for an increase in alcohol duty to help pay for more nurses and other key services.
Futurity: Research News - TWO TRAITS MAY LINK MAJOR DEPRESSION AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
New research may uncover key predictors for the combination of major depressive disorder and alcohol use dependence—information that could aid in both prevention and treatment.
Irish Examiner (Ireland) - Beyond Dry January: Is it time to reassess our relationship with alcohol in the longer term?
Many of us entered 2020 promising to give up alcohol for a month and, if you’ve stuck with it, steering clear of booze for that long can feel like a huge achievement. But will you be breathing a sigh of relief and hitting the bar hard in February? Or has a month off given you a slightly different outlook?
Delano.lu (Luxembourg) - STRATEGY TO REDUCE ALCOHOL ABUSE TARGETS YOUNGSTERS
The government’s national action plan to tackle the misuse of alcohol has been approved by the Council of State.
The Australian (Australia) - Breaking free from alcohol, our most dangerous drug
Yesterday, on Australia Day, I was sober for 50 years. Since I stopped drinking and drugging on January 26, 1970, Alcoholics Anonymous has continued to teach me that for an alcoholic one drink is too many and 100 is not enough.
CapeTalk (South Africa) - New law on 0% blood-alcohol limit for drivers to be strictly enforced, says FARR
Zero-tolerance for drunk drivers is the way to go, says the Foundation for Alcohol Related Research. The Foundation for Alcohol Related Research (FARR) says it supports the incoming law taking a zero-tolerance approach to drunk driving.
YLE News (Finland) - Can "Dry January" help quench Finland's thirst for alcohol?
Many people in Finland are wrapping up a month of abstinence from alcohol, known as “tipaton tammikuu” or Dry January in English. Annika Eloranta of the Network for Preventive Substance Abuse Work (EPT) told All Points North that Finns drink 10.4 litres of hard liquor per person each year, a number that was declining but has bubbled up slightly in recent years.
TASS (Russia) - Aeroflot to return alcoholic beverages in economy class flights
Russia's Aeroflot will return alcoholic beverages in economy class flights starting February 1, the company told TASS on Thursday.
UrduPoint (Russia) - Nearly Third Of Crimes In Russia Committed Under Alcohol Influence – Statistics
Almost one in three offenses in Russia were committed last year under the influence of spirits, official figures published Monday by the Interior Ministry showed.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Alcohol News - 3/2020


BBC News (Scotland) - 'More research needed' on underage drinkers and minimum pricing
NHS experts have said more research is needed into how minimum pricing for alcohol is affecting underage drinking.
BBC News (UK) - Call to tax 'hidden' sugar in pre-mixed alcoholic drinks
Many "ready to drink" pre-mixed spirits are packed with excessive sugar and hidden calories and should be subject to a sugar tax like fizzy drinks, health experts say.
YLE News (Finland) - Can "Dry January" help quench Finland's thirst for alcohol?
Many people in Finland are wrapping up a month of abstinence from alcohol, known as “tipaton tammikuu” or Dry January in English. Annika Eloranta of the Network for Preventive Substance Abuse Work (EPT) told All Points North that Finns drink 10.4 litres of hard liquor per person each year, a number that was declining but has bubbled up slightly in recent years.
94.5 PST (USA) - 1 in 3 New Jerseyans Lie About Their Alcohol Consumption
Let's be real, some of the questions that get asked at the doctor’s offices are on another level. Sometimes filling out the forms at the doctor's office can make you feel like a complete alcoholic but really you are just living your best life.
Sudbury.com (Canada) - Alcohol involved in almost half of snowmobile fatalities over the past decade
The Ontario Provincial Police has released a report in conjunction with Snowmobile Safety Week, indicating that over the past 10 snowmobile seasons they have investigated 175 snowmobile fatalities.
BBC News (Spain) - Spain's Magaluf and Ibiza crack down on alcohol-fuelled holidays
Spain's Balearic Islands have passed a law banning pub crawls and happy hours in three popular tourist destinations in a bid to crack down on alcohol-fuelled holidays.
RACGP (Australia) - Alcohol use stable, decline in smoking rates: AIHW
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) findings, the apparent consumption of alcohol in 2017–18 is equivalent to an average of 2.72 standard drinks per day per consumer of alcohol aged 15 and over – an increase of just 0.02 since 2016–17.
EurekAlert - Combined prenatal smoking and drinking greatly increases SIDS risk
Children born to mothers who both drank and smoked beyond the first trimester of pregnancy have a 12-fold increased risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) compared to those unexposed or only exposed in the first trimester of pregnancy, according to a new study supported by the National Institutes of Health.
Psychiatry Advisor - Alcohol Consumption Worsens Global Burden of Disease
Study results published in Lancet Public Health underscores the significant worldwide burden of disease attributable to alcohol. Alcohol-attributable death rates were highest in Eastern Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, and countries with low human development indices (HDIs). Across countries, alcohol use disproportionately affected young people and men.
Technology Networks - How Alcohol Addiction – and Abstinence – Remodel the Brain
Employing advanced technologies that allow whole brain imaging at single-cell resolution, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine report that in an alcohol-dependent mouse model, the rodent brain's functional architecture is substantially remodeled.
IAS (UK) - Young risky drinkers: overrepresented as victims and perpetrators of alcohol's harms to others
Adverse outcomes from drinking are borne not only by individual drinkers, but by their families, friends, and the broader community. Alcohol related harms are pervasive – they include everyday problems such having to clean up vomit on the streets, or having to pick up the slack of a work colleague who is hung over.
Baltic Times (Latvia) - Finance Ministry proposes to raise excise tax on alcohol gradually
The Finance Ministry proposes to raise the excise tax rate on alcohol gradually, said Finance Minister Janis Reirs' aide Ints Dalderis (New Unity) in an interview with the Latvian public radio today.
Independent (UK) - Almost three quarters of drinkers unaware of links between alcohol and cancer, poll claims
Almost three quarters of drinkers don’t know that any amount of alcohol can increase the risk of developing cancer, according to research.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

FASD News - 2/2020


CBC.ca (Canada) - As demand explodes, Manitoba's new FASD court expands to meet need
Manitoba's court designed to help offenders with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is tripling the number of hearings for adults to deal with skyrocketing demand for the unique hearings they began offering less than a year ago.
MD Linx - Ophthalmological findings in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders – A cohort study from childhood to adulthood
In this prospective cohort study, researchers ascertained if ophthalmological findings in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) continue into young adulthood.
Statesman Journal (USA) - Effect of new law: Former Salem death row inmate gets life sentence for prison murder
The report said Agee has a psychotic disorder, suffers from partial fetal alcohol syndrome and has brain defects, a low IQ and the adaptive functioning equivalent to that of a 7-year-old child.
Science Daily - Real risks associated with cannabis exposure during pregnancy
A new study has definitively shown that regular exposure to THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, during pregnancy has significant impact on placental and fetal development.
KFYR-TV (USA) - Birth Defects Prevention Month
January is Birth Defects Prevention Month and the North Dakota Department of Health is Partnering with organizations like March of Dimes and the National Birth Defects Prevention Network to give mothers information about how to prevent birth defects.
MD Linx - Identification of alcohol risk drinking behaviour in pregnancy using a web-based questionnaire: Large-scale implementation in antenatal care
Researchers investigated the feasibility of a web-based questionnaire when gathering information on alcohol consumption in pregnancy to recognize women with risk drinking behavior.
Manistee News Advocate - MDHHS offers tips during National Birth Defects Prevention Month
Every 4.5 minutes a baby is born with a birth defect in the United States. That’s why the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is joining with leading prenatal health experts from the National Birth Defects Prevention Network, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics, March of Dimes, Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention and MotherToBaby this month to increase awareness of five critical tips to reduce the chances of having a baby with a birth defect.
The Star (UK) - Over 100 Sheffield babies born to mothers with alcohol or drug addictions
There were 128 babies born to mothers currently in treatment for drug or alcohol misuse; with ongoing problematic or dependent drug or alcohol use during pregnancy or where there was suspicion of drug use such as street sex workers.
Washingtonian (USA) - My Nine-Month Quest for a Decent Zero-Proof Cocktail
It seemed I couldn’t have timed my pregnancy better last year—at least when it came to hitting bars. Booze-free drinks not only had suddenly become socially acceptable but were actually cool among the bar cognoscenti.
The Chronicle of Social Change - The 10 Commandments of Working with Youth Impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
According to the Center for Disease Control, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) impact between 2 to 5 percent of the general population in the United States. When working with children who have come from homes where parents abuse alcohol and other drugs, the prevalence rates are going to be significantly higher.
FASD: Learning with Hope - Shining a Light on Our Loved One’s Interests When Parenting a Person with FASD
When our son was little he would obsess over light switches. Once he was tall enough, he would ‘play’ with the light switches, turning lights on and off and on and off and on and off.
engnews24h - Alcohol in pregnancy • Consequences also in the first weeks
Alcohol harms the unborn child in the womb. Even small amounts can have negative consequences for the child. Pregnant women should therefore completely avoid beer, wine, sparkling wine or high-proof alcohol – in every phase of pregnancy. Alcohol is also hidden in some foods.

UPCOMING
EUFASD - Research conference from 14th to 16th September 2020 (Arendal, Norway)

The call for Abstracts is now open
Digital Journal - Janet Wagner to Give a Webinar Presentation on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome to the CJJA (January 24, 2020)
Experienced banking attorney, Janet Wagner, takes her child health advocacy to the Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators as she gives a webinar presentation on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and how persons living with FAS can be helped.
Mercy Services - Working with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) - Train it Forward and/or Strategies & Sensory Training (10 March - 11 March, 2020; Fort Scratchley, Australia)
The Making FASD History in Newcastle Project is offering Working with FASD training over two days.
Quinte Children's Treatment Centre And Rebound Child & Youth Services - FASD Donna Debolt (10 February 2020; Quinte West, Canada)
We are excited to welcome Donna Debolt! Donna is a social worker in private practice who translated her 30 years with Child Protection into working as an outspoken advocate for children and adults who have lifelong risks for health, development, learning and functional difficulties associated with prenatal exposure to alcohol.
FASD Greater Manchester - NOFAS-UK FASD STRATEGIES WORKSHOP (January 21, 2020; Cheadle, United Kingdom)
FASD are hosting a free workshop run by Sandra Butcher, Chief Executive of NOFAS-UK and Jan Griffin, advisor to NOFAS-UK and member of the UK and EU Birth Mothers Network-FASD.
FAFASD - 2-DAY WORKSHOP: FASD AND THE BRAIN-BASED APPROACH, MAY 12-13, RALEIGH, NC
The FASD and the Brain-Based Approach workshop introduces a neurobehavioral approach to living with, caring for, and working with individuals and families impacted by FASD.
Diakonie Michaelshoven - Fortbildung „Umgang mit FASD“ in Köln (10.06.2020; Cologne, Germany)
The training gives a basic introduction to the topic of FASD. “Pedagogical guides” are introduced through everyday life and tested together. It is very important to maintain and change the care strategy.
The University of British Columbia - 9th International Research Conference on Adolescents and Adults with FASD (April 22-25, 2020; Vancouver, Canada)
Continuing on the work of eight previous conferences, there remains a clear need to examine relevant global research, programs and policies. What can we learn from practice based evidence? What does existing or emerging research tell us?

VIDEOS and MATERIALS
Mission Health - Why Diagnosing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Is Critical
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term used to describe the range of effects that can occur in an individual who was prenatally exposed to alcohol. FASD is not a clinical diagnosis, rather a term that includes a group of developmental disorders resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure.
Nehemiah Koroma - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Video Presentation
Al Coates - Podcast Special - Adoption UK Scotland's FASD Hub
In the podcast Aily Brown the FASD lead co hosts with Scott and they introduce the Hub and the work that is undertaken. Scott also takes time to speak to a few professional and parents(Jessica, Judith and Jen) that have roles in the hub as well as a parent (Gemma) that has received support through the services that the Hub provides.
Susan Campbell - 3rd Annual Eastern Ontario FASD Symposium: Keynote Myles Himmelreich
Susan Campbell - 3rd Annual Eastern Ontario FASD Symposium: THE COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FASD & JUSTICE
Susan Campbell - 3rd Annual FASD Symposium: FOSTERING HEALTHY GROWTH: UNDERSTANDING THE INTERACTION BETWEEN FASD, TRAUMA, ATTACHMENT AND SENSORY
Susan Campbell - 3rd Annual FASD Symposium: TRANSITIONING INTO ADULTHOOD WITH
Susan Campbell - 3rd Annual FASD Symposium: NAVIGATING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM
The FASD Success Show - Maggie May Amazing Adult with FASD
Meet Maggie May. Maggie is a young adult with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. In her day-to-day life, Maggie wears many hats - she is a helper, a student, a speaker and moderator of a Private Facebook Group that supports people with FASD.

RESEARCH
Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health - Community‐based child development service fetal alcohol spectrum disorder assessment: A retrospective clinic audit
The current study detailed the profile of children assessed for FASD and was the first to report the diagnostic profile of children assessed using the Australian Guide to the Diagnosis of FASD within a community child development service.
Addiction Biology - Lasting alterations induced in glial cell phenotypes by short exposure to alcohol during embryonic development in zebrafish
We report significant changes in wide‐spread glial cell phenotypes induced by embryonic alcohol exposure in the zebrafish brain and conclude that the zebrafish will advance our understanding of the mechanisms of this devastating disorder.
Brain Research - Neurodevelopment in Adolescents and Adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD): a Magnetic Resonance Region of Interest Analysis
These cross-sectional findings suggest that at least some brain regions may become smaller at an earlier than expected age in individuals with FASD, and that sex is an important factor to consider when examining neural structures in FASD.
American Journal of Ophthalmology - Ophthalmological findings in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders – a cohort study from childhood to adulthood
Ophthalmological findings such as refractive errors, strabismus and fundus abnormalities are frequent in children with FASD and persist into early adulthood.
Maedica-a Journal of Clinical Medicine - Alcohol and Psychoactive Drugs in Pregnancy
Although often difficult to diagnose, the use of psychoactive drugs during pregnancy has become a commonly encountered occurrence. The present article aims to clarify the effects of alcohol, tobacco, narcotics, antidepressants, stimulants, halucinogenes and canabioids consumption on pregnancy and the newborn.
Neurotoxicity Research - Hydrogen Sulfide Attenuates the Neurotoxicity in the Animal Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Alcohol-induced neurocognitive defects offspring’s are included with activation of oxidative-inflammatory cascade followed with wide apoptotic neurodegeneration in many brain’s regions such as hippocampus.
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth - Midwives’ engagement in smoking- and alcohol-prevention in prenatal care before and after the introduction of practice guidelines in Switzerland: comparison of survey findings from 2008 and 2018
Seven years after its introduction, the effectiveness of the Guideline in increasing midwives’ engagement in smoking and alcohol use prevention appears limited despite midwives’ increased awareness.
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing - Comparison of Awareness about Alcohol Use during Pregnancy among Female College Students by Drinking Levels: Using the Theory of Planned Behavior
It is necessary to increase the intention to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy for the female college students having problematic alcohol behavior. The following strategies are recommended for them; decreasing acceptable attitudes toward alcohol use during pregnancy and reinforcing the influence of social pressure toward to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy.
Heliyon - Concurrent nicotine exposure to prenatal alcohol consumption alters the hippocampal and cortical neurotoxicity
Prenatal Smoking and/or drinking is a major health concern around the world. Thus, our current study may lead to better insights into the molecular mechanisms of fetal alcohol and nicotine exposure on the developing offspring.
Developmental Neuropsychology - Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Associated with Prefrontal Cortical Deoxygenation in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Relationships between neurodevelopmental functioning and hemodynamic changes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) were contrasted between children with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and children who differed relative to their history of PAE and the presence of other neurodevelopmental impairment.
Alcohol and Alcoholism - Identification of Alcohol Risk Drinking Behaviour in Pregnancy Using a Web-Based Questionnaire: Large-Scale Implementation in Antenatal Care
A web-based questionnaire was feasible when collecting information on alcohol consumption in pregnancy to identify risk drinking behaviour. Women with risk drinking behaviour had a low acceptance of referral to specialized care.
Acta Neuropsychiatr - Prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with early motor, but not language development in a South African cohort.
PAE has potentially important consequences for motor development in the first 2 years of life, a period during which the most rapid growth and maturation occurs. These findings highlight the importance of identifying high-risk families in order to provide preventive interventions, particularly in antenatal clinics and early intervention services.
Nature - Prevalence of Alcohol Use in Late Pregnancy
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can result in detrimental developmental complications. The objective of this study was to estimate the most recent PAE prevalence data for the state of West Virginia (WV) and associated factors.
Folia medica Cracoviensia - Prenatal alcohol exposure and autonomic nervous system dysfunction: A review article
Alcohol is a recognized teratogen that affects various aspects of fetal development. Tissue that is particularly susceptible to its teratogenicity is neuronal tissue. The effect of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on the central nervous system has been extensively studied, yet the knowledge on the influence of PAE on the autonomic nervous system is scarce.
Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine - Evaluations of pregnancy admitted to perinatology clinics that pregnants have fetal anomalies
An education program prepared for the pregnant women in our region about the goal of the diagnostic and screening tests and routine pregnancy controls will increase the chance of early diagnosis.
Journal of Adolescent Health - an Application to Substance Use and Unintended Pregnancy Risk
The Young Women’s Stress Study (YWSS), a longitudinal, community-based pilot study of young women in Georgia, takes a novel approach using biosocial theory and biodemographic methods to study interrelationships between behavioral, mental, physical and reproductive dimensions of adolescent health.

IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Süddeutsche Zeitung (Germany) - Mächtige Alkohol-Lobby
Kinder, die schon im Mutterleib vom Alkoholkonsum der Mutter betroffen waren, zeigen später oft Verhaltensauffälligkeiten. Die werden jedoch nicht immer richtig diagnostiziert, schreibt eine Kinderärztin.
Verneri TV (Finland) - FASD Suomi haastattelee: Anna Asikainen, sosiaalityöntekijä, FASD-asiantuntija
FASD Suomi teki vuonna 2019 kolme asiantuntijahaastattelua FASDin kanssa työskentelevistä ihmisistä. Tässä videossa haastateltavana on Anna Asikainen. Hänellä on pitkä työura sosiaalihuollon perhetyössä ja FASD-asiantuntijana.
Verneri TV (Finland) - FASD Suomi: Janina Niittymäki: alkoholin aiheuttamien sikiövaurioiden puheeksiottaminen
Kätilö Janina Niittymäki kertoo, kuinka ottaa esille alkoholin aiheuttamat sikiövauriot äitien kanssa käytävissä keskusteluissa.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Alcohol News - 2/2020


Technology Networks - Study of Over 170,000 Individuals Identifies Genes Associated With High Alcohol Consumption
Feeling the repercussions of over-indulging on the alcohol front over the festive period? Perhaps you've committed to a dry January as part of your 2020 New Year's resolution. Maybe you're completely teetotal and embracing a life of alcohol sobriety.
NDTV Food - Alcohol Addiction, Abstinence Related To Restructuring Of Brain? Find What The Study Says
The research also stated that the findings further undermine the idea of addiction to alcohol as a psychological condition or consequence of lifestyle. The findings were published in online journal PNAS.
Curetoday.com - Increase Of Alcohol Intake Higher Among Younger Cancer Survivors
A first-of-its-kind study published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network found that there was an increase in alcohol intake among cancer survivors over time and that such rates were higher among younger individuals.
The Atlantic (USA) - America’s Favorite Poison
Regardless of how much Americans love to drink, the country could be safer and healthier if we treated booze more like we treat cigarettes. The lack of serious discussion about raising alcohol prices or limiting its sale speaks to all the ground Americans have ceded to the “good guys” who have fun. And judging by the health statistics, we’re amusing ourselves to death.
The New York Times (USA) - Alcohol Deaths Have Risen Sharply, Particularly Among Women
The number of women drinking dangerous amounts of alcohol is rising sharply in the United States.
Read more
Thrive Global - Would Removing Alcohol From the Workplace Improve Employee Well-Being?
The top HR trends reported for 2020 are employee engagement, eliminating sexual harassment, and nurturing employee mental health and work life balance, according to Smart Brief. The best way to be on top of these HR trends is to remove alcohol from your workplace.
The Brussels Times (Belgium) - Flemish youths on average start drinking alcohol at 14.6 years of age, study shows
The average Flemish secondary school student starts drinking alcohol at 14.6 years of age, a study by the Flemish Centre of Expertise for Alcohol and other Drugs (VAD) carried out during the academic year of 2017/2018 shows.
Independent Online (South Africa) - Dry January Challenge calls on SA to avoid drinking alcohol for the month
South African consumers of alcohol are some of the heaviest drinkers in the world, data published by the World Health Organisation shows, but according to sobriety advocate Janet Gourand, all is not lost.
ERR News (Estonia) - Alcohol counselor: No punishment can cure a disease
While those committing crimes should be punished, that punishment will not cure any disease, according to Kaja Heinsalu, an addiction treatment counselor who works with drink driving offenders. Heinsalu was speaking in the aftermath of weekend collision involving a drunk driver, which killed two women and a nine-month-old baby.
3AW (Australia) - This could be the best way to reduce alcohol-related crime in Australia
Researchers are calling for the introduction of a minimum floor price for booze to drive down alcohol consumption in Australia.
The Brussels Times (Belgium) - Less alcohol, but more drugs behind the wheel, police campaign shows
During the “Weekend without alcohol behind the wheel” police campaign from Friday 10 January to Monday 13 January, fewer people tested positive for alcohol, but more for drugs, the results show.
Newshub (New Zealand) - Hundreds of alcohol-related incidents by military personnel recorded by NZDF
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is admitting it has a problem with alcohol. Newshub can reveal that Military Police recorded hundreds of drink-related episodes over the past two years.
Men's health UK (UK) - People Are Ditching Alcohol Altogether Instead of Doing Dry January
At first glance, the fact that just 14 per cent of respondents to a YouGov survey said that they were going to participate in Dry January this year, compared to 23 per cent last year, might make it seem that more Brits are back on the booze.
Buxton Advertiser (UK) - Fifth of drinkers regularly exceed government's weekly recommended alcohol limit
A fifth of drinkers exceed the government’s weekly recommended alcohol limit EVERY week, according to research.
Newswise - Drinking among sport-playing college students is strongly influenced by peer perceptions
Alcohol misuse among college students remains a major public health concern. Students’ perceptions of how much their peers are drinking, and of peers’ attitudes to alcohol, are known to be a key influence on their own alcohol use.
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (UK) - Doctors and surgeons can provide vital evidence to help reduce alcohol harm
In this guest blog by Meg Griffiths, Communications Manager from Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA), she explains about evidence being needed for the UK having an alcohol strategy and how you can provide evidence on reducing alcohol harm.
EUCAM - NEW LIGHT SHED ON LINK BETWEEN ALCOHOL MARKETING AND INCREASED CONSUMPTION IN YOUNG PEOPLE
Published in BMJ Open, the research — led by the University of Stirling and the Cancer Policy Research Centre at Cancer Research UK — revealed that 11 to 19-year-old current drinkers, who report high alcohol marketing awareness, are one-and-a-half-times more likely to be higher risk drinkers, compared to those who have low or medium awareness.
Newsweek - HEAVY DRINKING COULD BE LINKED TO LUNG CANCER, SCIENTISTS BELIEVE
Scientists have identified six genes which they believe are linked to drinking alcohol in excess. By studying the genes of tens of thousands people, the team also found heavy drinking could raise the risk of developing lung cancer.
World Cancer Research Fund - How the alcohol industry persuades us to drink too much
It’s January. It’s dark, rainy … but possibly also ‘dry’. If, like an estimated 4 million other Brits, you’ve embarked on Dry January this year, it might be because you want to reset your relationship with alcohol, get a bit healthier or save some money. But you might also be wondering around now why it’s been a bit of a challenge – it should be easy, right? Well, the world of alcohol has been changing under our noses.
Everyday Health - Heavy Drinking May Damage the Heart Before Signs Appear, Study Finds
During the holiday season, alcohol consumption tends to rise. But the American Heart Association (AHA) reminds us that too much drinking can take a serious toll on our health.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Alcohol News - 1/2020


NPR (USA) - U.S. Alcohol-Related Deaths Have Doubled, Study Says
More Americans are ordering more rounds and that's leading to more funerals, according to a new study on alcohol-related deaths.
The Independent (UK) - FIFTH OF DRINKERS EXCEED ALCOHOL LIMIT EVERY WEEK, POLL CLAIMS
A fifth of drinkers exceed the government’s weekly recommended alcohol limit every week, according to a new poll.
thejournal.ie (Ireland) - Most children who drink alcohol source it from their parents or home
THE MAJORITY OF children who drink alcohol source it from their parents or home, according to a new study on schoolchildren’s behaviour.
Washington Post - Cutting out alcohol may reduce atrial fibrillation episodes
For people with atrial fibrillation, abstinence from alcohol may make the heart beat better. Eliminating most alcohol consumption dramatically cuts the number of episodes of the potentially deadly heart rhythm disturbance among moderate and heavy drinkers, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Financial Times (UK) - Law firm alcohol culture is damaging mental health
Law firm drinking culture is having a negative impact on lawyers’ mental health and contributes towards bullying and harassment, according to the professional body for UK lawyers.
GMA - 4 unexpected benefits of giving up alcohol for Dry January
When the ball dropped at midnight and we began 2020, some people took their last sip of alcohol for the next 31 days in a New Year's challenge known as "Dry January."
CBC.ca (Canada) - Researcher says only 25% of Canadian drinkers know alcohol causes cancer. A B.C. campaign wants to change that
Many people don't know that alcohol can cause cancer. Now you do. This sobering message from Fraser Health Authority appeared Monday on ads in Lower Mainland transit stations and vehicles, restaurants and bars and on the agency's social media platforms.
Evening Standard - The dark side of alcohol: the effect booze is really having on your mind, body and bank balance
Have you ever stopped to consider the impact alcohol is having on your health and wellbeing? Nutritionist and weight loss specialist Kim Pearson discusses the different ways that drinking alcohol could be affecting your health
Personnel Today (UK) - Commission calls for evidence on how alcohol harms working lives
Health professionals are being asked to supply evidence on the effects alcohol has on health and any changes needed to reduce the harm caused by excessive drinking.
PhillyVoice.com - Abstaining from alcohol may reduce atrial fibrillation episodes
Alcohol's relationship with the heart is complicated. While consuming red wine in moderation is believed to be good for the heart, a new study suggests that people with atrial fibrillation should abstain from all alcohol.
The Courier (Scotland) - Scottish criminals could be given tags to monitor alcohol consumption
Criminals in Scotland could have their alcohol consumption monitored remotely under new proposals.
CTV News (Canada) - Increasing number of Canadians admit to drinking and driving, survey
An increasing number of Canadians have admitted to drinking and driving when they thought they were over the legal limit, according to a recent road safety survey.
Atlanta Journal Constitution - Binge drinking linked to heart damage, study finds
A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association indicates there may be a link between binge drinking and heavy alcohol consumption and heart damage.
The Australian (Australia) - Tide turns on wave of alcohol-based abuse when access is restricted
As a paediatrician who has studied and worked in the Kimberley, Pilbara and Northern Territory for the past 20 years, now specialising in foetal alcohol spectrum disorder within the justice system, I have observed the impact of the “rivers of grog” on multiple generations of remote Australian families.
The Lancet - The burden of alcohol use: better data and strong policies towards a sustainable development
Alcohol is a psychoactive substance with toxic and dependence-producing properties, which is consumed worldwide. More than 2 billion people, or about three of ten individuals, are current drinkers globally.
Time24News (Sao Tome and Principe) - Children drink more alcohol than milk in Sao Tome and Principe, says researcher
Researcher Isabel de Santiago, from the Institute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the University of Lisbon (FMUL), conducted a large study on alcohol and drug use by young people in the country. The findings will be published in June 2020 in the journal Acta Médica Portuguesa.
EurekAlert - Researchers surprised by high levels of alcohol consumption among cancer survivors
First-ever large study on drinking habits of cancer survivors -- published in JNCCN -- finds more than a third exceed moderate drinking levels, one in five engage in binge drinking
Psychology Today - Even Light Drinking Raises Cancer Risk
Most people think the problem with drinking is when you drink too much. But a little bit is fine, right? Maybe not. A giant new study from Japan suggests that any drinking of alcohol upped the risk of cancer of the colon, stomach, breast, prostate, and esophagus.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health - Improving Knowledge that Alcohol Can Cause Cancer is Associated with Consumer Support for Alcohol Policies: Findings from a Real-World Alcohol Labelling Study
Improving knowledge that alcohol can cause cancer using labels may increase support for alcohol policies.

Sunday, January 5, 2020

FASD News - 1/2020


APN News - Consuming alcohol during pregnancy can leave the child exposed to the incurable Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
To put simply, alcohol fetal syndrome is the mental and physical damage in a child due to exposure to alcohol while in the womb. This the condition can cause damage ranging from growth problems to brain damage.
The Indian Express - Drinking during pregnancy can expose the child to foetal alcohol syndrome
No amount of alcohol has been established as safe to be consumed during pregnancy. If a pregnant woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy, she places the baby at the risk of foetal alcohol syndrome.
Metro (UK) - Foster boy, 5, with ‘sad eyes’ died covered in his own brains after judge returned him to jailbird parents
Antonio was beaten to death just a year after a judge with the Crow Tribal Court ordered foster parents Jeff and Christy Foster to return the youngster to Byington and Renova. He had been fostered by the Fosters shortly after being born suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome.
Kansas City Star (USA) - Man sentenced to prison for 2016 kidnapping and murder of Overland Park woman
At his sentencing Thursday, Rinke apologized for his crimes. He spoke about his experience in Alcoholics Anonymous and diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome. He was diagnosed with the disorder by a forensic psychologist after his arrest.
Health Navigator (New Zealand) - Alcohol and pregnancy – what you need to know
HPA undertakes a range of research and evaluation activities to inform its alcohol and pregnancy work. Below is a list of evidence summaries, research reports about alcohol and pregnancy, and evaluations of services working to prevent and reduce harms caused by antenatal alcohol use.
FARE (Australia) - Vital funds for protecting women and children from alcohol harm
The Australian Government is making a significant investment in the health of future generations of Australians, according to the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE).

UPCOMING
FASD Norge/EUFASD - Welcome to the european conferance on FASD 2020 (14.09.2020-16.09.2020, Norway)
The first Competence Center for children with prenatal alcohol/drug exposure in Scandinavia is proud to host the EUFASD 2020 in Arendal, Norway.
Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Live Stream - Strategies for Supporting (Jul 15 - Jul 16, 2020)
This workshop will review five pillars for success when supporting individuals with FASD. These include a focus on Strengths, Healthy Relationships, Promoting FASD Self Awareness, Adaptations Strategies, and Team-Based Support. Participants will transfer newfound knowledge about FASD into practical and meaningful ways to try differently, not harder in their support of individuals, families, and communities affected by FASD.
Kim Carson - FASD with Donna Debolt (Feb 11, 2020, Ontario Canada)
Let's collaborate as a community! We, as a community need to work together to improve outcomes for individuals with FASD by shifting our way of thinking and the way we deliver services.
YWCA Metro Vancouver - HONOURING THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE COMMUNITY (February 27, 2020, Vancouver Canada)
A gathering to address Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in the circle of our lives.
The University of British Columbia - INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE ON ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS WITH FASD (Apr 22, 2020 - Apr 25, 2020, Vancouver, Canada)
Although there have been thousands of published articles in FASD in general, there has been limited research specifically on adolescents and adults with FASD or on individuals across the lifespan.
The Fostering Network - The Impact of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (4 February, 2020, Glasgow, Scotland)
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a range of characteristics displayed by children who have been exposed to alcohol in-utero. Children may display a range of physical, cognitive, social or emotional disabilities which last a lifetime.
Rooted in Advocacy - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Moving from Awareness to Action (March 12, 2020, Winston-Salem, NC)
The Rooted in Advocacy pre-conference event will put a spotlight on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). FASD refers to a range of effects that can occur when a developing fetus is prenatally exposed to alcohol.
Yukon FASD Inter Agency Advisory - K.E.M. Committee - Jeff Noble FASD 10H!1 (Feb 5th OR 6th 2020, Whitehorse, Canada)
Jeff has been creating buzz and raising awareness in FASD circles across Canada. He has been teaching front line staff, educators and caregivers, alike about the in’s and out’s of living and supporting someone with FASD.
Formed Families Forward - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Webinars Winter 2020 (JANUARY 16, February 11)
FFF is pleased to host another set of winter webinars on FASD in January and February 2020.
FASD Network - FASD Sessions Conference (February 26-27, 2020, Saskatoon Canada)
This two-day conference will be held in Saskatoon on February 26th and 27th, 2020 at the Travelodge (106 Circle Dr West). This year’s theme will focus on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the justice system.
FASD2020 - 3rd Australasian Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Conference ( November 11th – 12th 2020, Sidney Australia)
We are delighted to invite you to the 3rd Australasian Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Conference (FASD2020) from November 11th – 12th 2020. The conference will take place at the Hilton Sydney, Australia and will bring together people from academia, clinical practice, service provision and the community to share their knowledge, build networks and learn new skills.
RKO.fi - Tietoa ja työkaluja FASD-asian puheeksi ottamiseen Tietoa ja työkaluja FASD-asian puheeksi ottamiseen (14.5.2020, Finland)
Sikiöaikainen alkoholialtistus voi johtaa niin oirekuvaltaan kuin vaikeusasteeltaan hyvin monimuotoiseen oireyhtymään, jonka kansainvälisenä lyhenteenä käytetään termiä FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorders)

VIDEOS and MATERIALS
AlcoholFreePregnancy - Alcohol and Pregnancy, Dr. Alexis Gimovsky, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist
Video by National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS)
For more information, visit www.nofas.org
The Recovery Village - Drug Use During Pregnancy
The gestational period and the first few months of life are the most critical times for a child’s development. During these times of major growth and formation, an infant’s development is greatly impacted by environmental factors and the health of their mother.
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress - Inquiry into effective approaches to prevention and diagnosis of FASD and strategies for optimising life outcomes for people with FASD
The high prevalence of alcohol related harm (including FASD) in Aboriginal communities is strongly linked to the processes of colonisation which have undermined the capacity of some families to care for their children.
Jeff Noble – The FASD Success Story
Listen to The FASD Success Show on Spotify.

RESEARCH
International Journal of Peptide - Nesfatin-1 Ameliorate Learning and Memory Deficit via Inhibiting Apoptosis and Neuroinflammation Following Ethanol-Induced Neurotoxicity in Early Postnatal Rats
Fetal exposure to alcohol can cause a wide range of long-lasting physiological and behavioral effects, collectively referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).
Child Abuse & Neglect - Maternal adverse childhood experiences are associated with binge drinking during pregnancy in a dose-dependent pattern: Findings from the All Our Families cohort
Maternal ACEs were common in this middle to upper-middle income, well-educated sample and impacted the next generation through BD in pregnancy.
BMC Public Health - The cost-effectiveness of screening tools used in the diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: a modelled analysis
Findings suggest that screening is associated with less use of healthcare recourses but also fewer years of life with an FASD diagnosis over a no screening strategy. Since diagnosis can be key to children receiving timely and appropriate health and educational services, cost-savings must be weighed against the fewer years of life with a diagnosis associated with screening.
Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - A Review of Sleep Disturbances among Infants and Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Sleep problems are common among children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). We review sleep disturbance in three major NDDs: autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
Research in Developmental Disabilities - The best possible start: A qualitative study on the experiences of parents of young children with or at risk for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
Parents appreciated and endorsed the importance of EI with its provision of individualized, family-centered supports and resources. Examination of the gaps and unmet needs that are common and distinct underscore the importance of an FASD-informed approach to EI.
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research - Prenatal Ethanol Exposure and Postnatal Environmental Intervention Alter Dopaminergic Neuron and Microglia Morphology in the Ventral Tegmental Area During Adulthood
Our findings show an association between PE‐induced morphological activation of microglia and impaired DA neuron morphology in the VTA. Importantly, postnatal environmental intervention rescues possible PE‐induced microglial activation.
International Journal of Environmental Reserarch and Public Health - Children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS): 3D-Analysis of Palatal Depth and 3D-Metric Facial Length
Metric vertical measurements of the face can be used as additional objective criteria for FAS diagnoses. However, no significant differences were reported for palatal depth evaluation in the specific age range tested in the present study.
Italian Journal of Pediatrics - Two case reports of fetal alcohol syndrome: broadening into the spectrum of cardiac disease to personalize and to improve clinical assessment
We would like to make an alert for clinician, given the possibility of finding anomalies of heart conduction and rhythm in children affected by FASD even without structural congenital heart disease.
European Journal of Neuroscience - Alterations in the Whole Brain Network Organization after Prenatal Ethanol Exposure
The results revealed that prenatal ethanol exposure disrupts the balance between network segregation and integration in young adult female rats. The whole brain network is less integrated after ethanol exposure in the females, suggesting wide‐spread reduction of long‐range regional communication.
Med Sci - Fetal alcohol exposure: when placenta would help to the early diagnosis of child brain impairments
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy constitutes a major cause of neurodevelopmental and behavioral disabilities. Whereas it is possible for clinicians to establish a perinatal diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome, the more severe expression of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), most FASD children are late or mis-diagnosed due to a lack of clear morphological and neurodevelopmental abnormalities.
BMC Pediatrics - Association of adverse childhood experiences and neurodevelopmental disorders in people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and non-FASD controls
Both FASD and subsequent exposure to ACEs are associated with increased risk for development of comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders. Prevention of ACEs during childhood may decrease risk for development of comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders.
Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs - Cohort profile: ADEF Helsinki – a longitudinal register-based study on exposure to alcohol and drugs during foetal life
The data comprise a wide range of information on infant health, youth’s mental and somatic health and development, out-of-home care history, and mother’s life situation at the delivery and later health. Risk and protective factors for different long-term developmental outcomes in adolescence or in young adulthood will be studied.
Maternal and Child Health Journal - Determinants of Alcohol Consumption in Women Before and After Awareness of Conception
A half of women consumed alcohol before pregnancy awareness. Guidelines recommend abstinence from alcohol consumption in pregnant women for precaution, although influence of low to moderate levels of prenatal alcohol exposure on the fetus is inconclusive.

IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Metro (Italy) - Fasd, quando la gravidanza può cambiare una vita intera
SALUTE La storia di Claudio inizia dieci anni fa, quando una diagnosi di FASD abbatte all'improvviso lo steccato della disabilità entro il quale fino ad allora erano stati confinati tutti i suoi problemi.
Wochenblatt.de (Germany) - Schwangere sollten auch an Silvester auf Alkohol verzichten
Bayerns Gesundheitsministerin Melanie Huml hat mit Blick auf die anstehenden Silvesterfeiern davor gewarnt, die Risiken durch Alkohol in der Schwangerschaft zu unterschätzen.
Tobi Jall (Germany) - Erwachsene mit FASD Im Sonnenhof
Short documentary on adults with FASD.
Ruhr Nachrichten (Germany) - Warnung vor Alkohol in der Schwangerschaft: Schon ein Schluck kann eine Behinderung auslösen Fetale Alkohol-Spektrum-Störung
Ein einziges Glas Wein in der Schwangerschaft kann ein Kind für immer schädigen, warnt der Elternverein FASD. Doch: 60 Prozent aller Frauen trinken Alkohol in der Schwangerschaft.
Satakunnan Kansa (Finland) - Alkoholi uhkaa ainakin satojen sikiöiden terveyttä – Määrä voi todellisuudessa olla huomattavasti suurempi, koska luotettava tutkimustieto puuttuu
Alkoholi on merkittävin sikiön terveyttä uhkaava tekijä. Siitä huolimatta alkoholin aiheuttama FASD tunnistetaan huonosti. Suomalaistutkimuksella kerätään seurantatietoa päihteitä käyttäneiden äitien lasten elämästä.