FASD News 47/2021

CTV News Edmonton (Canada) - Alberta to spend $5M on supports for students with FASD
The Alberta government will be allocating $5 million over five years to educators to get the tools and skills needed to assist students with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
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Daily Record (UK) - Charity launches in Ayrshire for children exposed to alcohol in the womb
A charity which will support children with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) has launched its new pioneering centre in Ayr.
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New Era Newspaper - Mental health conversations - Are you drinking alcohol during pregnancy?
Many pregnant women worldwide may consume alcohol during pregnancy without really knowing the risk it has on the developing fetus. American research published in 2020, indicates that expectant mothers between the ages of 18 to 44 have seen an increase in alcohol use and binge drinking from 2011 to 2018.
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CTV News Winnipeg - University of Winnipeg research could help with understanding brain diseases and disorders
New research on the human brain out of the University of Winnipeg could end up changing how doctors can diagnose and treat central nervous system disorders.
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STV News (Scotland) - Hub to support families affected by Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
A hub in Ayr providing support to children and families affected by Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder has opened its doors.
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Surrey Place (Canada) - FASD Diagnostic Clinic: Impact Beyond COVID-19
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) affects approximately 4% of Canadians. It impacts more people in Canada than autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome combined.
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VIDEOS and MATERIALS
FASD Awareness #BeAware - Shushma Jain - Insights, strategies & home-schooling a child with FASD
In this third webinar we are delighted to welcome author Shushma Jain. Shushma is a writer, blogger, home-educator and parent to a child who has SEN.
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Susan Wendel - FASD Diagnosis, Intervention, & Prevention
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PreventFASD.info - The Conceivables
The Conceivables are characters in their very own comic strips, originally created by university students with input from other young people.
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Fasd.me - National FASD Christmas Cards
Pack of 10 National FASD Christmas cards. A wonderful Christmas scene adorned with baubles decorated with self portraits from young people living with FASD. These cards are being sold at cost.
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FASD Network Sask – FASD and the body (Infographic)
FASD is an invisible disability (we can’t see the disability) so many people don’t understand that it impacts an individual’s whole body, often leading to a lifetime of health issues and chronic pain.
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CanFASD – Improvinf Mental Health and Substance Use Outcomes for Individuals with FASD (Infographic)
We need more interventions directly targeting mental health and substance use challenges among individuals w/ FASD!
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NOFASD Australia - #23 The FASD Brain with Gilberto Spencer
Kurt is joined by Gilberto Spencer, FASD Advocate, Brain Coach, Mentor and Podcaster. They chat about his FASD symptoms, the events leading up to his diagnosis and the release of his podcast series; “The FASD Brain”.
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RESEARCH
Dove Medical Press - Substance Use in Pregnancy: Identifying Stigma and Improving Care
To combat stigma when working with substance-using pregnant people throughout the peripartum period, caregivers should utilize a trauma-informed approach that incorporates harm reduction and motivational interviewing with a focus on building trust, enhancing self-efficacy, and strengthening the personal skills and resources needed to optimize health of the parent-baby dyad.
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Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research - Development and validation of a postnatal risk score that identifies children with prenatal alcohol exposure
The risk score significantly distinguished alcohol-exposed from control subjects and correlated with important cognitive outcomes. It has significant clinical potential and could be easily deployed in clinical settings.
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Forum Ortodontyczne/Orthodontic Forum - Dental and orthodontic evaluation of children and adolescents with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) – a review of the literatuure
Children with FASD should receive institutional preventive and therapeutic care, which will allow for systematic control of the oral health status and malocclusions.
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Behavioral Sciences & The Law - Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and Interviewing : a systematic review highlighting clinical and legal implications and recommendations
Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are estimated to be nineteen times more likely to encounter the criminal justice system (CJS) in comparison to individuals without FASD.
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BMC Pediatrics - Utilization of psychotropic medications in children with FASD: a retrospective review
The prescription algorithm is promising but requires further refinement to accommodate the range of presentations in children with FASD.
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The Journal of Pediatrics - Ear Abnormalities among Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Our findings highlight the importance of examining the ears during assessment for FASD, and the need for public health messaging regarding the harms of PAE.
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Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie - Early detection of risk for antisocial behaviour: towards moral bio enhancement?
We conclude that in the absence of effective interventions, broad social prevention is preferable to prevention based on screening for individual risk factors.
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International Journal of Mental Health and Addictions - Perspectives of Policymakers and Service Providers on Why Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Remain Unabated in South Africa: a Qualitative Study
The study findings suggest a cascade effect within the different levels of the ecological model highlighting the need for a holistic and systemic approach to preventing FASD in SA.
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Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy - Alcohol use during pregnancy in post-conflict northern Uganda: pregnant women’s experiences and provider perceptions
Pregnant mothers in post-conflict northern Uganda regard alcohol as a remedy to some of the social, economic and health challenges they face.
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Experimental Neurology - Potential roles of imprinted genes in the teratogenic effects of alcohol on the placenta, somatic growth, and the developing brain
In this review, we summarize the growing body of literature characterizing prenatal alcohol-related alterations in imprinted gene methylation and/or expression and discuss potential mechanistic roles for these alterations in the teratogenic effects of prenatal alcohol exposure.
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The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry - Suicidality and Associated Factors Among Individuals Assessed for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Across the Lifespan in Canada: Suicidabilité et facteurs associés chez les personnes évaluées pour les troubles du spectre de l'alcoolisation fœtale de durée de vie au Canada
With this study, we contribute to the emerging evidence of elevated risk of suicidality among individuals with PAE/FASD and improve our understanding of factors that may exacerbate this risk.
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Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction - A current view on the teratogenic effects of alcohol during pregnancy. Possible preventive measures
From the analysis of domestic and foreign literature, it can be concluded that the problem of preventing fetal alcohol syndrome is an urgent and unexplored problem in Russia.
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Edinburgh Research Archive - Behavioral profile of children with prenatal alcohol exposure and kinship and foster carers’ experiences of wellbeing and parenting stress
Children’s exposure to alcohol in pregnancy is a known risk factor for the development of life-long cognitive and neurobehavioural difficulties, collectively known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs).
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Genes - Prenatal Adversity Alters the Epigenetic Profile of the Prefrontal Cortex: Sexually Dimorphic Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Food-Related Stress
Prenatal adversity or stress can have long-term consequences on developmental trajectories and health outcomes. Although the biological mechanisms underlying these effects are poorly understood, epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, have the potential to link early-life environments to alterations in physiological systems, with long-term functional implications.
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Circulation - Epigenetic Regulation of Notch Signaling by Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Impacts Cardiac Outflow Tract Defect Development
Acute PAE induces hyperacetylation in the SHF and inhibits Notch signaling by restricting NICD translocation. Lack of Notch signaling reduces SHF viability and prevents elongation of the developing OFT.
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IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Gazeta Krakowska (Poland) - Jesteś w ciąży? Nie pij alkoholu! Szpital dziecięcy im św. Ludwika zaprasza na terapię dla pacjentów z FASD
Centrum Leczenia i Diagnostyki FASD przy Szpitalu Dziecięcym im. św. Ludwika w Krakowie to jeden z najbardziej zaawansowanych ośrodków w Polsce, zajmujący się kompleksową diagnostyką i leczeniem dzieci z Płodowym Zespołem Alkoholowym (FASD).
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Kompas Health (Indonesia) - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) atau Sindrom Alkohol Janin
Fetal alcohol syndrome atau sindrom alkohol janin adalah suatu kondisi pada anak yang dihasilkan dari paparan alkohol selama kehamilan.
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MTV Uutiset (Finland) - Vuoden raittiusteko -tunnustus MTV Uutiset Liven lähetykselle: Äidin raskaudenaikainen juominen vaikuttaa yhä Eevaliisan elämään
Raittiuden Ystävät ry on tänään palkinnyt MTV Uutiset Liven tuotannon Vuoden raittiusteko -tunnustuksella. Haastattelussa helsinkiläinen Eevaliisa Nwogun kertoi elämästään FASD:in, eli alkoholin aiheuttamien sikiövaurioiden kanssa. Äidin raskaudenaikainen juominen vaikuttaa Nwogun arkeen vielä aikuisenakin.
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Mediuutiset (Finland) - Sikiöaikainen altistus alkoholille voi näkyä ikävällä tavalla lapsen aivoissa vielä kouluiässäkin
Väitöstutkimuksen mukaan alkoholi voi haitata myös silmän kehitystä kaikissa raskauden vaiheissa. Sikiöaikaiseen alkoholialtistukseen liittyykin melko usein erilaisia silmämuutoksia.
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AlFemminile.com (Italy) - Alcol in gravidanza: un nemico infido
È molto pericoloso assumere alcolici in gravidanza, Anche berne in minime quantità può provocare un aborto, un parto prematuro o la nascita di un neonato sottopeso.
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FASmisja (Poland) - Najmłodsza FASD Edukatorka
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Alcohol News - 47/2021

The Connexion (France) - Almost quarter of people in France drink more alcohol than recommended
Santé publique France advises that people do not drink more than 10 units of alcohol per week, but found that a significant percentage regularly exceeds that amount.
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Pledge Times - Understand how alcohol consumption can develop esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is the sixth most common in Brazilian men, with 11,30 new cases per year, according to the newspaper O Globo. The scientific survey of the project Mutographs it also alerts other factors to the development of esophageal cancer: tobacco and even drinks at high temperatures, such as coffee and mate.
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Science Daily - Only alcohol -- not caffeine, diet or lack of sleep -- might trigger heart rhythm condition
New research that tested possible triggers of a common heart condition, including caffeine, sleep deprivation and sleeping on the left side, found that only alcohol use was consistently associated with more episodes of the heart arrhythmia.
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Government of Ireland (Ireland) - Ministers Donnelly and Feighan welcome further commencement of provisions of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act
Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, and Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and National Drugs Strategy, Frank Feighan TD, today welcomed the commencement of further sections of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018.
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Independent (Ireland) - Births, smoking and alcohol consumption all declining in Ireland, latest health report shows
People in Ireland are having fewer children, smoking less and drinking less alcohol in the past 10 years, a new report from the Department of Health shows.
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The Scotsman (Scotland) - Why the pandemic means it is right to further increase minimum pricing of alcohol - Dr Lewis Morrison
We are three and a half years into Scotland’s minimum unit pricing policy, which set out to make long-term changes to the country’s relationship with alcohol and improve lives for generations to come.
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New York Post - The rare symptom of cancer in young people that appears when you drink alcohol
Most people have suffered the nasty side effects of alcohol at least once in their lifetime. But for some people, they never thought it could lead to a cancer diagnosis.
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PAHO - PAHO launches “Pahola,” a digital health worker who can help risky drinkers decrease their alcohol consumption
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) today launched Pahola, the world’s first digital health worker to specialize in alcohol and health, in an effort to help countries in the region reduce increasing rates of harmful drinking.
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The Print - More people drank excessively during the pandemic. We must address our alcohol problem
Alcohol addiction has existed for thousands of years. But an OECD report said that drinking habits have significantly changed since the pandemic.
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Sidney Morning Herald (Australia) - ‘Alarming’ alcohol lobby push to weaken public health regulation
The alcohol lobby is trying to water down the food regulator’s efforts to change Australians’ drinking habits, urging the federal government to shift it out of the Health Department and restrict it to product recalls and salmonella warnings.
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NordAN - NordAN resolution 2021 – Effective alcohol policies are hampered by industry interference
NordAN General Assembly raised the problem of alcohol industry interference in alcohol policy and adopted the following resolution on November 19, 2021 in Vilnius, Lithuania.
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Alcohol News - 45/2021

Medical News Today - Moderate alcohol consumption ‘should not be recommended for health reasons’
“Research in the future should address the problem that low to moderate alcohol consumption may increase the likelihood of death,” Dr. John answered. “Even low amounts of alcohol might add to the likelihood of female breast cancer or hypertension, both very severe and prevalent health disorders in many general populations.”
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The Guardian - ‘Nonsensical’ to suggest moderate drinking improves health, says expert critical of Australian study
Australian-led research claiming moderate alcohol intake is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and death is not based on strong evidence, and fails to take into account recent research findings linking even moderate alcohol intake to cancer, experts say.
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Gateshead Council (UK) - New campaign warns that alcohol causes cancer
Most of us know that smoking causes cancer. But a worrying new survey shows only 1 in 3 people in the North East know that alcohol also causes cancer such as bowel, breast, mouth and throat cancer.
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News Medical - Substance use, high alcohol consumption may increase the risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation
Using methamphetamines, opiates, cocaine and cannabis, as well as acute alcohol consumption (alcohol consumption within a week preceding an atrial fibrillation event) may increase the risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation, according to preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2021.
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Medical News Today - What to know about alcohol and migraine
Drinking alcohol is a trigger for some people with migraine. Although any type of alcohol can trigger a migraine, people who experience regular migraine attacks cite red wine as the most frequent culprit.
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Medical Xpress - Smoking, alcohol intake tied to age-related macular degeneration
Genetically predicted smoking initiation and lifetime smoking are associated with elevated risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), while genetically predicted alcohol intake is associated with increased risk of geographic atrophy, according to a study published online Nov. 4 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
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News Medical - Drinking alcohol and not exercising are modifiable risk factors for SARS-CoV-2
New research from the United Kingdom suggests several factors that increased the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection involved higher alcohol use, Asian/Asian British ethnicity, and obesity.
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Daily Mail (USA) - Congress approves alcohol monitors in ALL new cars to stop drunk driving in Biden's new $1.2T in infrastructure package
Congress is requiring in its $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that automakers install monitoring systems in their cars to stop drivers from operating their vehicles while intoxicated.
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NZ Herald (New Zealand) - Alcohol's big role in Mid Canterbury crashes
An Ashburton councillor is dismayed that the influence of alcohol has been highlighted as part and parcel with serious road crashes in Mid Canterbury.
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UNSW Newsroom (Australia) - Treatment for alcohol use disorder often not perceived as 'helpful': WHO survey analysis
A new study analysing data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) World Mental Health surveys in 24 countries has explored how many people with alcohol use disorder seek treatment, and if so, whether they found it helpful.
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The Scotsman (Scotland) - Specialist drug and alcohol treatment for the young should be priority for the Scottish Government, a report has stated
The study said there were “worrying signs of increasing alcohol and drug-related harms among those of younger ages”.
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The Local.ch (Switzerland) - EXPLAINED: The real reason Swiss supermarket Migros doesn’t sell alcohol
Swiss supermarket Migros has never sold alcohol or tobacco since being founded almost 100 years ago. Here's why.
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Alcohol News - 44/2021

WebMD - Think a Little Alcohol Might Be Healthy? Think Again
Wine lovers, beer drinkers and those who enjoy a martini now and then have long been told that moderate drinking beats total abstinence. Unfortunately, new German research is throwing some cold water on that advice, finding that premature death among non-drinkers is likely the result of unrelated health problems that have little to do with the decision to forgo Chardonnay or Tanqueray.
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USA Today - Pandemic Drinking: Alcohol trends in graphics
As many Americans cope with COVID-19 stress by turning to alcohol, they're weakening their immune systems and risking breakthrough infections.
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NZ Herald (New Zealand) - Alcohol Healthwatch audit: Booze is being sold at 'pocket money' prices
There are calls for the price of alcohol to increase after a new "Cheap Drinks" audit found it costs as little as 77 cents per standard drink to buy booze at some supermarkets and bottle stores.
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CBC (Canada) - Alcoholic beverages need labels with calorie counts, Manitoba group says
A non-profit organization in Brandon, Man., is taking aim at the way alcohol is marketed — and says information such as calorie counts and suggested serving sizes should included on alcohol packaging.
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MASSLive (USA) - Fatal crashes involving alcohol haven’t waned since cannabis legalization, study suggests
New research from Boston Medical Center, Boston University and the University of Victoria suggests that cannabis legalization hasn’t replaced alcohol use among drivers. In fact, many appear to be using both substances.
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The Conversation - Exercise can reduce students’ desire to drink alcohol – new research
Alcohol intoxication, particularly in western cultures, is increasingly regarded as a socially acceptable behaviour, and excessive levels of alcohol consumption has been identified as a significant problem among university students. One study found that 45-69% of UK students engage in weekly binge drinking sessions.
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The Irish Times (Ireland) - Alcoholic liver disease up 30% during pandemic perfect storm, says consultant
A study of admissions for liver disease at Beaumont Hospital has shown an increase of 30 per cent over the 18 months from the first lockdown.
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News24 (South Africa) - ‘Consumption of alcohol critical’
The Law Enforcement Liquor Unit disposed of approximately 6 000L of alcohol – confiscated from public spaces in the past two years – during a liquor destruction event held in Ndabeni last month.
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The Brussels Times (Belgium) - Number of hospitalisations due to excessive drinking rapidly increasing
More and more people are being taken in at Leuven’s emergency departments as a result of alcohol intoxication, including young people, but also those suffering from alcohol addiction.
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CVBJ - Why alcohol is the worst drink to keep your immune system strong
Everything we eat and drink can affect the function and integrity of the immune system. While we can’t be in complete control of not getting sick, it is possible to support immunity through a nutritious diet, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and managing stress.
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Irish Examiner (Ireland) - Alert for Ireland on cancers driven by alcohol
Between five and 10 individuals per 100,000 people in Ireland are developing cancer every year as a result of their alcohol use, according to the World Health Organisation.
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The Lancet - Sobering evidence that higher taxes will mitigate alcohol-related cancer harms
The idea of taxing harmful commodities to improve population health is an old one. In his conceptualisation of modern economics, Adam Smith wrote that “sugar, rum and tobacco are commodities which are nowhere necessary for life, which have become objects of almost universal consumption, and which are therefore extremely proper subjects of taxation.”
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CBS.nl (Netherlands) - More graduates and less alcohol consumption among young people in 2020
With a pandemic ongoing, the year 2020 reshaped the lives of young people in the Netherlands. In secondary education, relatively more students were promoted and almost all final examination students graduated.
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