FASD News - 41/2021

EUFASD - Second Research Network Meeting
The EUFASD Alliance is again organizing an online meeting of European researchers concerned with FAS/D and issues related to alcohol and pregnancy. The purpose of the meeting will be primarily networking and sharing of ideas and plans. If you are a European researcher and would like to attend or present your work, mail to info@eufasd.org.
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BBC (UK) - Better diagnosis of FASD in children needed, adoptive mum says
An adoptive mother is calling for the NHS to improve its diagnosis for children exposed to alcohol in the womb, so their families can be helped.
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Boston 25 News (USA) - Pandemic-induced drinking raises concerns over harm to unborn children
The pandemic has created a lot of stress. Often a simple way to find relief is a glass of wine or a beer. Surveys show drinking is up significantly, particularly among women.
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NBC News - How this mom of 10 — including 6 with fetal alcohol disorder — conquered pandemic parenting
When schools closed in March 2020 at the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, Alicia Dougherty suddenly found herself at home … with all 10 of her children.
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CBC (Canada) - Assault didn't cause man's death near Yellowknife shelter, alcohol poisoning did, court finds
A Whatì, N.W.T., man initially accused of murder was sentenced for assault causing bodily harm after the court found the death was caused by alcohol poisoning, and not physical violence, said the Crown prosecutor.
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HuffPost (USA) - Missouri Executes Intellectually Disabled Man Despite Objections From Pope, Lawmakers
A Missouri man was put to death Tuesday for killing three workers while robbing a convenience store nearly three decades ago, an execution performed over objections from racial justice activists, lawmakers and even the pope.
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Healthing (Canada) - New clinic to improve understanding of fetal alcohol syndrome
Janet Carioni knew what to look for when her two young sons began showing symptoms of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). The occupational therapist had worked with a FASD assessment team before moving to Ottawa.
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Welstand (South Africa) - Alcohol is poison to an unborn baby
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) may not be something you think about or you think that only people from certain low-income population groups can get FASD, but just to give people a wake-up call International FASD Awareness Day is held annually on 9 September.
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Salford Now (UK) - Salford professor says ‘big gap’ in knowledge of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder following first ever UK-wide study
The leader of a University of Salford team examining foetal alcohol spectrum disorder says that there is more work to be done on researching the disorder.
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BingUNews - Research project to explore how pre-natal alcohol exposure leads to ‘anxious’ offspring
Born to mothers who used alcohol during their pregnancy, these individuals were apparently primed to be anxious. They fretted about leaving the safe confines of home and were more likely to turn to alcohol themselves to ease the pressures of life.
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VIDEOS and MATERIALS
CanFASD - Early Life Adversity and FASD: Risks and Opportunities
This webinar recording features a presentation Drs Jacqueline Pei and Katherine Flannigan from the CanFASD.
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CanFASD - Participate in our FASD and Cannabis Research Study
Researchers from the University of Saskatchewan are seeking (a) adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, (b) caregivers of an adult with FASD, and (c) service providers who work with someone with FASD to take part in a research survey.
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FASDHub Scotland - FASD Professionals, FASD Month 2021
We asked FASD professionals from across the country why we should 'think differently' about FASD. Here's what they had to say.
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FosterParentCollege - Could It Be FASD?
While fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are surprisingly common in children in care, they can often be difficult to diagnose, as the signs and symptoms are associated with a number of other conditions.
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The Florida Center For Early Childhood - FASD Warrior: Alex & Pam Carver
16-year old Alex Carver, with the help of his mom Pam Caver, has been outspoken about his everyday struggles with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) publishing videos, blogs, and even articles about the lifetime disability.
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Spotlight on FASD - Podcast Season 4, Episode 3 - FASD and the Judicial System
This week's episode is the beginning of our mini series of interviews with Jerrod Brown; professor, researcher, consultant and trainer from Minnesota.
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FASD Hub Scotland - Factsheets – FASD
Our FASD factsheets have been written by the FASD Hub Teams, using their personals and professional knowledge of FASD to build a comprehensive bank of factsheets for caregivers and professionals. New factsheets are regularly added, so if you can’t find what you want, call our helpline and we will be able to help.
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FASD Success - #085 Chandra and Jordan Smith: The Power of Same Page Parenting
Previous guests have included moms and dads, but this is the first time we’ve had a couple appear together to talk about their journey as FASD Caregivers. I couldn’t think of a better couple than Chandra and Jordan as the first.
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FASD Family Life - Caregiver Stress; Causes and Consequences with Dr. Jerrod Brown
Welcome to FASD Family Life the podcast where we get REAL about raising children and youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
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Society for the Study of Addiction - Browse through The Pregnancy Edit
The Pregnancy Edit features a series of articles on alcohol-related harm in pregnancy, created for the Society for the Study of Addiction website in September 2021. Browse content from The Pregnancy Edit below.
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RESEARCH
PharmacoEconomics - Budget Impact Analysis of an Epigenetic Test Used for Diagnosing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder from the Perspective of a Laboratory Budget Holder in Manitoba, Canada
Findings provide insight into the impact that DNA methylation testing would have on laboratory budgets if used in the diagnostic workup for FASD in individuals for whom prenatal alcohol exposure cannot be confirmed otherwise.
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International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction - Resilience Resources and Emotional and Behavioral Functioning Among Youth and Young Adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
These findings complement previous research documenting the necessity of ensuring early stable relationships for youth with FASD and permitting timely access to diagnostic services.
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Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience - Examining the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on corticothalamic connectivity: A multimodal neuroimaging study in children
The results support the hypothesis that integrity of the corticothalamic tracts influences cortical alpha power. Further research is needed to understand how brain structure and function influence behavior.
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Behavioral Sciences & the Law - Diminished culpability in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD)
There is a biological basis for diminished criminal responsibility in offenders with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) just as there is in those with intellectual disability.
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Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders - Discrepancies in Performance-Based Measures and Teacher Ratings of Executive Function in the Assessment of FASD
Results suggest that tests and teacher ratings of executive functioning may not measure the same construct or other factors may be impacting this relationship.
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University of East London - Children with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and their Experiences of School Belonging: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
It is anticipated that this research will go some way towards raising the profile of FASD amongst frontline educational professionals in the UK.
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Alcoholism - Prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Greater Manchester, UK: An active case ascertainment study
FASD was found to be common in these schools and most of these children's needs had not previously been identified. A larger, more definitive study that uses a random sampling technique stratified by deprivation level to select schools is needed to make inferences regarding the population prevalence of FASD.
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Social Science & Medicine - Alcohol use during pregnancy in rural Lesotho: “There is nothing else except alcohol”
Within this context of chronic poverty and food insecurity, alcohol use during pregnancy will continue to represent a valid, though tragic choice if the structural conditions and current social arrangements that facilitate prenatal alcohol use remain unchanged.
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Current Opinion in Pediatrics - Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders current state of diagnosis and treatment
FASDs are a common cause of neurodevelopmental impairment in school-age children, and their recognition is essential to provide early interventions in order to optimize the outcome for these individuals when they reach adulthood.
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Clinical Pharmacology During Pregnancy - Substance abuse in pregnancy
The use of screening tools such as brief office interventions assists in identifying women at risk or currently using harmful substances and is one strategy providers may implement to support a positive and healthy pregnancy outcome.
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Cancer - Association between pregnancy intention and preconception health behaviors
Pregnancy intentions were associated with some healthier preconception behaviors in AYA survivors. Medical professionals caring for AYA survivors may consider pregnancy intention screening to guide conversations on preconception health.
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Journal of Affective Disorders Reports - Implications for comorbidities, maternal smoking during pregnancy, and inflammation in current smokers
Our study suggests an opportunity to identify current-smokers who had co-occurring clinical and psychiatric comorbidities and childhood trauma, and to offer them the opportunity of personalized treatments.
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IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Gosc Opolski (Poland) - Świat bez FASD
We wtorek 19 października specjaliści będą dzielić się wiedzą, jak pomagać z tym zaburzeniem. Podajemy program konferencji.
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Alles Münster (Germany) - „Bitte kein Alkohol in der Schwangerschaft!“
Autorin Selina Spetter, die sich für die Aufklärung über das Fetale Alkoholsyndrom stark macht, im Interview mit ALLES MÜNSTER Kolumnistin Iris Brandewiede.
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Demokraatti (Finland) - ”Tämä olisi valtava isku” – yhteistyöryhmä vaatii FASD-toiminnan rahoituksen turvaamista
Kehitysvammaliiton kattava työ FASD-ihmisten parissa ja sen rahoitus tulee turvata, sanoo kansanedustaja ja eduskunnan Vammaisasiain yhteistyöryhmän puheenjohtaja Merja Mäkisalo-Ropponen (sd) tiedotteessa.
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