FASD News - 20/2026

CanFASD (Canada) - New resource uses puppets to teach about FASD
We’re excited to share a unique, child-friendly way to learn about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) – through puppets!  FASD Understanding is an education initiative designed to increase awareness, reduce stigma, and provide practical support for individuals and families.
https://canfasd.ca/2026/05/13/new-resource-uses-puppets-to-teach-about-fasd/

Michigan State Medical Society (USA) - Health Policy Committee Reviews FASD and Lead Exposure Bills
The House Health Policy Committee heard testimony Wednesday on bills aimed at improving early intervention services for children affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and lead exposure.
https://www.msms.org/news/health-policy-committee-reviews-fasd-and-lead-exposure-bills

PNI Atlantic News (Canada) - WENDY ELLIOTT: More support needed for people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
There’s always more to learn. In the last couple of years, I’ve been educated about fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) by a young woman in the community. Sally (not her real name) is fun and feisty. She lives with distinct challenges that I can now label.
https://www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/annapolis-valley/wendy-elliott-more-support-needed-for-people-with-fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorder

Streamline (Kenya) - One In Eight Women Drink During Pregnancy, Fueling Hidden Crisis
A silent epidemic is unfolding in maternity wards across the globe, heavily masked by deep societal stigma and catastrophic diagnostic failures.
https://streamlinefeed.co.ke/news/one-in-eight-women-drink-during-pregnancy-fueling-hidden-crisis

Midwest radio (Ireland) - New HSE safe pregnancy campaign
A new HSE campaign is letting the public know that avoiding alcohol completely is safest when planning a pregnancy and during pregnancy.
https://www.midwestradio.ie/news/new-hse-safe-pregnancy-campaign/

Lifestyle & Tech (South Africa) - Alcohol harm during pregnancy is about more than individual choices
As pressure grows on South Africa’s healthcare, education and social support systems, more attention is needed on the long-term impact that alcohol exposure can have on children and families through Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
https://lifestyleandtech.co.za/smart-living/article/2026-05-19/alcohol-harm-during-pregnancy-is-about-more-than-individual-choices

NACCHO (Australia) - Share your story to raise awareness of FASD
FARE is inviting expressions of interest from individuals and families who would like to share their lived experience as part of a new national project. This work aims to strengthen awareness and understanding of FASD, while supporting healthy, alcohol‑free pregnancies and breastfeeding across Australia.
https://www.naccho.org.au/share-your-story-to-raise-awareness-of-fasd/

FASD United - FASD United Welcomes the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health to the Affiliate Network
We are thrilled to welcome the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) as the newest member of the FASD United Affiliate Network, now comprised of 49 organizations united to further FASD awareness, provide support, and improve the quality of life for those affected by prenatal alcohol exposure.
https://fasdunited.org/fasd-united-welcomes-the-ohio-department-of-behavioral-health-to-the-affiliate-network/

FASD Hub (Australia) - Inquiry into the health impacts of alcohol and other drugs in Australia opening statement
The House Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability has held a public hearing as part of its inquiry into the health impacts of alcohol and other drugs in Australia.
https://fasdhub.org.au/news/inquiry-into-the-health-impacts-of-alcohol-and-other-drugs-in-australia-opening-statement/

Irish Medical Times (Ireland) - Ghosts in the Machine
Ireland’s historic relationship with alcohol, romanticised in folklore and lubricated by commerce, has produced a crisis hidden in plain sight, writes Terence Cosgrave.
https://www.imt.ie/opinion/comment/who-are-the-slow-learners-in-foetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorder-21-05-2026/  

VIDEOS
TEDx Talks - The Invisible Disease: FASD | Addie Broxterman
Addie Broxterman will ring awareness to the invisible disease of FASD. She will be using personal experiences to convey the importance of being informed.  Addie is a student at Pittsburg High School This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdpV0T5Mzrk

Administration for Children and Families (ACF) - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Data, Systems, and Strategies for Change
This webinar explores fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) through the lens of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), focusing on Plans of Safe Care (POSC) for infants.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hip20IIuYZA

Australian Teacher Aide - Supporting Students with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder FASD
Explore planning strategies, underpinning principles, and non-typical impairment patterns to better support students with FASD.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CPSFj_-TQI

Foster Care Association of Victoria - Understanding FASD Webinar
Join the Foster Care Association of Victoria (FCAV) and Simone McKenry from NoFASD Australia for an informative and practical webinar exploring Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and its impact on children and young people in out-of-home care.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59L00A6k7VY

Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint - Understanding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A Discussion with Jenn Wisdahl and Kristen Eriksen
Jenn Wisdahl leads strategy and operations at FASD United, the national organization supporting people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and promoting healthy pregnancies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFMO4vmJWeA

Patricia Kasper, Your FASD Coach - The Neurobiology of Migraines in FASD: What You Need to Know
This episode features Dr. Jerrod Brown, Jodee Kulp, and host Patti Kasper discussing the complex relationship between migraines and FASD. They explore neurobiological mechanisms, triggers, co-occurring conditions, and practical interventions to manage migraines, especially in individuals with FASD.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeHN-rFc8PM

Patricia Kasper, Your FASD Coach - Unlocking Emotional Intelligence for Neurodivergent Minds: A Conversation with Morgane Borzee
In this episode, Patti Kasper chats with Morgane Borzee about a groundbreaking visual system that revolutionizes how we understand and regulate emotions, especially in neurodivergent communities like those affected by FASD.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hrn0T4vMK1s

FASD Florida Center - FASD Collective: Shifts for Summer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Re0hHYE0MA

Harrison's Hope FASD - Nate Sheets on Supporting Adults with FASD: Autonomy, Regulation & Lifelong Support
In this insightful webinar, Nate Sheets explores what meaningful, brain-based support can look like for adults with FASD—focusing on autonomy, emotional regulation, collaboration, relationships, routines, and lifelong support needs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B0R4CPYuFs

 

RESEARCH
University of Toronto - Hidden harm: Unearthing the Roots of Alcohol Use Among Indigenous Mothers
This paper is a literature review which examines how alcohol affects fetal development and evaluates current prevention strategies in North America.
https://utoronto.scholaris.ca/items/9a7b8981-4254-442c-9377-84b06a444c1d

Neuroscience - Executive functioning-related behavior and neuronal activation in the thalamic nucleus reuniens in a combined intubation and alcohol third-trimester binge exposure in rats
This study underscores Re’s vulnerability to AE and the need for research into sex-specific mechanisms and interventions for AE-related cognitive deficits.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306452226003258

Adoption & Fostering - Looking beyond the deficits: The importance of a strengths-based approach to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
The UK is, with a rate of 41%, amongst the countries with the highest prenatal alcohol exposure rates in the world (Popova et al., 2017). Alcohol can cross the placenta and negatively affect fetal development, which can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) (Dejong et al., 2019).
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/03085759261448241

Physiology & Behavior - Linking prenatal alcohol-induced transcriptomic alterations to hippocampal-associated structural and behavioral deficits
This review seeks to connect early developmental vulnerabilities to later life phenotypes of hippocampal damage to support the discovery of prenatal alcohol exposure biomarkers and the development of potential therapeutics for alcohol-related impairments.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031938426001617

bioRxiv - Unraveling a comparative landscape of protein-coding genes linked to neuroimmune function during adulthood consequent of prenatal alcohol exposure
AE creates a unique inflammatory signature in the adult brain, even in the absence of secondary injury, with novel patterns of region-specific changes in genes implicated in glial-immune function.
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.11.724451v1.abstract

International Journal of Molecular Sciences - Does a Biochemical Approach Facilitate the Diagnosis of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Neonatal Period?
We aimed to review the existing literature on PAE assessment methods. Analysis of alcohol metabolites in neonatal meconium is the most widely studied and appears to be feasible for routine use, but it has some limitations.
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/10/4357

Alcohol and Alcoholism - Alcohol use during pregnancy and public awareness of harms: findings from the CAMH Monitor Survey, Ontario, Canada
Public health messaging and maternal alcohol use prevention strategies must address persistent misconceptions about alcohol use in pregnancy and engage not only women and expectant mothers, but also men, partners, and broader social networks.
https://academic.oup.com/alcalc/article-abstract/61/4/agag029/8677363?redirectedFrom=PDF

Child Psychiatry & Human Development - Teacher-Reported Prevalence of FASD in Kindergarten and Association With Home Problems and Early Intervention in 2010–2015 and 2016–2020
Given that the Canadian FASD diagnostic guidelines were updated in 2016, we aimed to determine changes to kindergarten FASD prevalence as well as the association of FASD with home problems and early intervention compared to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other conditions with neurodevelopmental origins (NDO) in the 2010–2015 period versus 2016–2020.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10578-026-02025-3

medRxiv - Estimated incidence and number of new cases with prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in Finland 1990-2025
PAE remains common in Finland, and the burden of FASD is substantial despite declining trends. Additional biomarker-based studies of PAE and active case ascertainment of FASD are needed to refine current estimates.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.09.26352787v1

European Journal of Pediatrics - Navigating complexity: a retrospective review of pre-diagnostic healthcare trajectories of youth diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
The findings highlight the extensive and varied pre-diagnostic healthcare journeys of youth with FASD. Despite growing policy attention, timely access to FASD diagnosis remains limited.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00431-026-07034-x

BMC Medical Education - Alcohol use disorders and Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in a South African dental school curriculum: a curriculum mapping study
Current oral health curricula at UWC insufficiently address the management of patients with FASD and alcohol misuse, reflecting a broader gap in context-responsive education.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12909-026-08924-2

Neurobiology of Stress - From teratogens to trajectories: Integrating teratology and Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) frameworks for a new take on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD)
Prenatal exposure to alcohol is an adverse early life exposure known to have serious and long-lasting effects on development. The concept that early life experiences, whether positive or negative, can have long-term impacts on adult physiological, behavioral, cognitive and health outcomes is not new. However, this concept gained greater recognition beginning in the 1950's, largely through the seminal contributions of Seymour (Gig) Levine, a founding father of the early experience concept, which changed our understanding of how experiences in early life can impact adult outcomes.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352289526000433

Behavioral sciences - Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Predicts Academic Outcomes from Childhood to Adolescence: A Prospective Longitudinal Study Based on Meconium Ethyl Glucuronide
PAE is associated with reduced real-life academic outcomes across development. School performance represents a sensitive functional outcome of neurodevelopmental vulnerability following PAE.
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/16/5/715

Archives of Disease in Childhood - Prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and its relationship with levels and patterns of alcohol consumption: a scoping review
FASD prevalence estimates in high-income countries and the risk of different levels and drinking patterns varied widely due to the use of different diagnostic criteria, sampling and alcohol consumption collection methods. Improving alcohol consumption collection methods will help enhance diagnostic certainty and the identification of at-risk groups.
https://adc.bmj.com/content/early/2026/05/03/archdischild-2025-329287.abstract

 

IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Helsingin Sanomat (Finland) - FASD-diagnoosi muutti elämäni suunnan
Suomessa syntyy vuosittain suuri joukko alkoholialtistuksen vaurioittamia lapsia, mutta vain murto-osa heistä saa FASD-diagnoosin. Missä ovat ne, jotka ovat jääneet tunnistamatta? He ovat aikuisia, kuten minä.
https://www.hs.fi/mielipide/art-2000012002109.html

Läkartidningen (Sweden) - Ska kvinnan vara nykter när hon försöker bli gravid?
De första veckorna av en graviditet är fostret särskilt känsligt för alkohol. Detta behöver uppmärksammas mer, så att kvinnor kan välja att avstå från alkohol redan innan graviditeten konstaterats.
https://lakartidningen.se/opinion/debatt/ska-kvinnan-vara-nykter-nar-hon-forsoker-bli-gravidae/

Uniwersytetu Medycznego (Poland) - Spektrum płodowych zaburzeń alkoholowych (FASD). Aktualizacja polskich wytycznych diagnozowania
Dziecko może mieć trudności z nauką, kontrolowaniem emocji i budowaniem relacji przez całe życie, mimo że na pierwszy rzut oka rozwija się „normalnie”.
https://www.umw.edu.pl/pl/aktualnosci/spektrum-plodowych-zaburzen-alkoholowych-fasd-aktualizacja-polskich-wytycznych

Polskie Radio (Poland) - NIE dla alkoholu w ciąży - apelują specjaliści! „Każda dawka jest szkodliwa”
FASD, czyli Spektrum Poalkoholowych Uszkodzeń Płodu powstaje na skutek spożywania alkoholu przez kobietę w czasie ciąży. - Każda dawka jest szkodliwa - przypominają specjaliści z toruńskiej Fundacji „Daj Szansę”, która prowadzi w regionie diagnozę FASD.
https://www.radiopik.pl/2,138454,nie-dla-alkoholu-w-ciazy-apeluja-specjalisci-kazda-dawka-alkoholu-w-ciazy-jest-szkodliwa

Alcohol News - 20/2026

RUV (Iceland) - Online alcohol sales “open tap” for children and teenagers
A survey by landlæknir (Directorate of Health) shows that children and young people can easily buy alcohol in online shops. A prevention specialist says increased activity by such shops undermines prevention work and leads to increased consumption.
https://www.ruv.is/english/2026-05-21-online-alcohol-sales-open-tap-for-children-and-teenagers-476080

The Brussels Times - Alcohol marketing: profiting from vulnerability
Despite declining alcohol consumption in Europe, alcohol remains significantly overproduced in the EU. In 2026 alone, the EU spent €40 million managing surplus wine production—funds that could instead have gone to public health, social support, or community wellbeing.
https://www.brusselstimes.com/2093305/alcohol-marketing-profiting-from-vulnerability

News-Medical - Smartphone overdependence may signal higher alcohol and smoking risk in teens
A large Korean adolescent study links problematic smartphone dependence with higher odds of lifetime drinking and smoking, raising new questions about how digital behaviors, reward-seeking, and substance-use risks may cluster during teenage development.
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260521/Smartphone-overdependence-may-signal-higher-alcohol-and-smoking-risk-in-teens.aspx

BU Today (USA) - Boston University–Trained High Schoolers Educate Lawmakers About Taxing Alcohol
Boston University–trained high school students visited the Massachusetts State House to share personal stories and data urging lawmakers to support a proposed 10‑cent‑per‑drink alcohol tax increase.
https://www.bu.edu/articles/2026/boston-university-trained-high-schoolers-educate-lawmakers-about-taxing-alcohol/

STAT - Why isn’t alcohol seen as a public health emergency?
Alcohol kills more Americans than any other drug by a wide margin. But discussions about substance use epidemics in the U.S. are usually centered around drugs like fentanyl or meth. In fact, most people in the U.S. do not see alcohol is as much of a public health problem.
https://www.statnews.com/2026/05/15/alcohol-as-public-health-emergency-status-report-alex-hogan/

Nation Thailand (Thailand) - Thailand alcohol controls take effect pending advertising criteria
Thailand's new Alcoholic Beverage Control Act has taken effect, introducing updated restrictions on alcohol. The new controls immediately ban the sale and consumption of alcohol in eight specific types of locations, including public transport hubs, government properties, and public parks.
https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40066499

PsyPost - A healthy diet doesn’t cancel out the inflammatory effects of alcohol, study finds
New research published in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism suggests that moderate to heavy drinking tends to be associated with increased bodily inflammation, even for individuals who maintain a highly nutritious diet.
https://www.psypost.org/a-healthy-diet-doesnt-cancel-out-the-inflammatory-effects-of-alcohol-study-finds/

The Dubrovnik Times (Croatia) - Croatian Parliament Debates New Restrictions on Alcohol Sales
The Croatian Parliament is set to debate urgent amendments to the Trade Act that would allow cities and municipalities to regulate the hours during which alcohol can be sold in shops.
https://www.thedubrovniktimes.com/news/croatia/item/19822-croatian-parliament-debates-new-restrictions-on-alcohol-sales

PopNAD (Sweden) - Sweden opened the door to farm sales of alcohol – here’s who walked in
Who buys alcohol straight from Swedish producers? In this article, Björn Trolldal (CAN) presents findings from a new study based on national survey data, offering a first look at consumer characteristics following the introduction of farm sales in 2025.
https://nordicwelfare.org/popnad/en/artiklar/sweden-opened-the-door-to-farm-sales-of-alcohol-heres-who-walked-in/

University of Sheffield (UK) - What do people with experience of alcohol dependence think about alcohol pricing policy?
Alcohol pricing and tax policies are among the most effective and well-evidenced options for tackling alcohol-related harms1. However, it is less clear how effective they are in reducing alcohol consumption among people with alcohol dependence.
https://sarg-sheffield.ac.uk/blog/what-do-people-with-experience-of-alcohol-dependence-think-about-alcohol-pricing-policy/

IAS - The more you look, the more you drink: how attention to alcohol adverts drives consumption
Alcohol adverts are everywhere: on television, online, at sporting events, and on billboards. We know that exposure to alcohol advertising is linked to increased drinking.
https://www.ias.org.uk/2026/05/19/the-more-you-look-the-more-you-drink-how-attention-to-alcohol-adverts-drives-consumption/

Movendi (Brazil) - Internal Survey on Beer Price Attitudes Reaches Lula’s Inner Circle and Delays Alcohol Tax Reform
An internal survey by Instituto Locomotiva – with framing of questions that mirrors the beer industry’s lobbying messaging – has reached Lula’s advisers and contributed to the government’s decision to postpone the Selective Tax bill until after the October 2026 elections, delaying the centrepiece of Brazil’s alcohol tax reform by at least a year.
https://movendi.ngo/media-snapshot/internal-survey-on-beer-price-attitudes-reaches-lulas-inner-circle-and-delays-alcohol-tax-reform/

The National Law Review - Ohio State Study Targets Alcohol Marketing That Downplays Breast Cancer Risk
A new study at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) seeks to raise awareness of alcohol as a risk factor for cancer specifically among young women.
https://natlawreview.com/press-releases/ohio-state-study-targets-alcohol-marketing-downplays-breast-cancer-risk

NordAN (Greenland) - Greenland debates national alcohol policy with children’s rights at the centre
Greenland’s parliament, Inatsisartut, has held a debate on whether the country should develop a national alcohol policy with children’s rights as the guiding principle. The debate, held on 13 May 2026, was proposed by Nivi Rosing from Inuit Ataqatigiit and asked how Greenland should balance adults’ individual freedom with the protection of children from alcohol-related harm.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/greenland-debates-national-alcohol-policy-with-children-s-rights-at-the-centre

NordAN (Iceland) - Icelandic government confirms online alcohol sales from domestic warehouses are not private importation
A coalition of Icelandic prevention organisations has welcomed the Icelandic Government’s response to the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA), saying it clearly confirms that online alcohol sales, as currently carried out in Iceland with domestic warehousing and delivery, are illegal.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/icelandic-government-confirms-online-alcohol-sales-from-domestic-warehouses-are-not-private-importat

Alcohol News - 19/2026

NordAN (Norway) - Alcohol problems in politics are about uncertain leadership
Debates about problematic alcohol use in politics are often about individuals and single incidents. That is understandable, but not enough. The Storting, Norway’s parliament, is also a workplace.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/alcohol-problems-in-politics-are-about-uncertain-leadership

STAT News (USA) - Alcohol is wreaking havoc on U.S. public health. American society looks the other way
It is a drug that kills nearly 500 Americans every day, and causes more deaths in a typical year than every infectious disease combined. It is manufactured abroad and domestically, then sold by powerful multinational organizations with a vast network of distributors. Its promoters can appear indifferent to its addictive and ruinous properties.
https://www.statnews.com/2026/05/12/america-alcohol-epidemic-plain-sight-deadliest-drug-series-part-1/

STAT News - Despite its toll, alcohol is still an awkward subject in the doctor’s office
Stop in for your annual physical, and you may be asked some version of this question: How much alcohol do you consume most weeks? Or maybe, how many days over the last week did you have a drink? Or even just: Do you drink at all?
https://www.statnews.com/2026/05/12/alcohol-use-disorder-screening-deadliest-drug-series-part-2/

Islands Business (New Caledonia) - New Caledonia enforces alcohol restrictions
STARTING today, new restrictions on alcohol sales will take effect across New Caledonia as authorities move to curb public disturbances linked to excessive drinking.
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/new-caledonia-enforces-alcohol-restrictions/

CNN - You can reverse much of the damage alcohol has done to your body, science says
Alcohol can feel deeply entwined in our lives. A beer or glass of wine while catching up with friends. A cocktail at the end of a hard day. A round of toasts at a party. It’s hard to believe that such seemingly innocent behavior reduces our immunity to infectious disease and raises the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases — but according to science, it does.
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/05/14/health/alcohol-harm-reversed-wellness

BBC (UK) - UK alcohol deaths fall for first time since Covid pandemic
The number of deaths caused by alcohol in the UK has fallen for the first time since the Covid pandemic, the latest national figures show.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3v2dxg79w2o

The Portugal News (Portugal) - Residents want to ban alcohol consumption on Lisbon street
Three months after restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages outside establishments in Lisbon, residents consider the measure "timid" and want to prohibit street consumption, while merchants remain cautious about the responsibility placed on them.
https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2026-05-14/residents-want-to-ban-alcohol-consumption-on-lisbon-street/1021611

BBC (UK) - Dad 'would still be here' without booze deliveries
Two sisters have said their alcoholic father could still be alive had he not been allowed to repeatedly order booze on delivery apps.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g0zyr409no

CAMH - New Review Confirms Alcohol Causes Dozens of Health Harms, Some Reversible
A new Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)-led systematic review published in the journal Addiction confirms that alcohol consumption causes substantial harm to health, with some harms potentially reversible if a person reduces or stops drinking.
https://www.camh.ca/en/camh-news-and-stories/rsch-new-review-confirms-alcohol-causes-dozens-of-health-harms-some-reversible

Medical Xpress - Alcohol use disorder and obesity may cause metabolic alterations that raise the risk of relapse, study suggests
Disrupted metabolic function in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) may be amplified in the context of obesity, contributing to intensified alcohol cravings, according to a preliminary study that supports ongoing investigation of GLP-1 agonists as a potential AUD treatment.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-alcohol-disorder-obesity-metabolic-relapse.html

SciTechDaily - Mixing Edible Cannabis and Alcohol May Impair Driving More Than Scientists Expected
Cannabis edibles and alcohol together produced stronger driving impairment than either substance alone, while standard field sobriety tests missed cannabis-related impairment.
https://scitechdaily.com/mixing-edible-cannabis-and-alcohol-may-impair-driving-more-than-scientists-expected/

PsyPost - Brain cells store competing memories that drive or suppress alcohol relapse
A new study published in the journal Neuron provides evidence that the brain stores competing memories of alcohol use and the recovery from it within distinct networks of the same type of brain cell.
https://www.psypost.org/brain-cells-store-competing-memories-that-drive-or-suppress-alcohol-relapse/

EnviroNews Nigeria (Nigeria) - Endorse alcohol labelling at CODEX discussions, RDI urges Nigerian govt
The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) has urged Nigeria’s Codex National Contact Point to endorse alcohol labelling at the 49th session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL49) holding on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Ottawa, Canada.
https://www.environewsnigeria.com/endorse-alcohol-labelling-at-codex-discussions-rdi-urges-nigerian-govt/

NZDoctor (New Zealand) - Alcohol harm doesn’t stop at 1km - and neither should community voice
The Āti Awa Toa Hauora Partnership Board is raising concerns about proposed alcohol law changes that could restrict who is allowed to object to new liquor licences.
https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/article/undoctored/alcohol-harm-doesnt-stop-1km-and-neither-should-community-voice

Flinders University (Australia) - More than 2m Australian middle-aged men drinking at risky levels
The first national in-depth study to examine alcohol use among Australian middle-aged men has found more than two million are drinking at levels that put their health at risk of harm.
https://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2026/05/12/more-than-2m-australian-middle-aged-men-drinking-at-risky-levels/

Balance (UK) - Millions worried about rising harm as 1 in 5 adults order rapid alcohol deliveries weekly
NEARLY half a million people in the North East (487,000 people) are estimated to be using rapid delivery services to order fast alcohol regularly. Among them will be many people already exceeding low-risk guidelines – who are twice as likely to order rapid alcohol deliveries at least once a week.
https://www.fresh-balance.co.uk/news/millions-worried-about-rising-harm-as-1-in-5-adults-order-rapid-alcohol-deliveries-weekly/

NordAN (Estonia) - Estonia: proposal would allow 16-year-olds to prepare and sell alcohol
A new amendment proposal in the Estonian Parliament has raised concern among public health organisations, as it would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work in jobs involving the preparation, offering and sale of alcoholic beverages.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/estonia-proposal-would-allow-16-year-olds-to-prepare-and-sell-alcohol

Alcohol Awareness (Norway) - Av-og-til launches “Hot parent summer” campaign in Norway
The Norwegian organisation Av-og-til has launched a new summer campaign with a simple message to parents: when children are present, stick to zero, one, or at most two glasses of alcohol.
https://alcoholcampaign.org/2026/05/14/av-og-til-launches-hot-parent-summer-campaign-in-norway/

Alcohol News - 18/2026

The House (UK) - We label medicine to save lives – it’s time to do the same for alcohol
Currently in the UK, a bottle of orange juice is required to display more nutritional information than a bottle of alcoholic beer. What is even more shocking is that there are no warning labels for alcohol, despite it being a Group 1 carcinogen causing at least seven cancers.
https://www.politicshome.com/opinion/article/label-medicine-save-lives-its-time-alcohol

NYC.gov (USA) - Buzzkill: NYC Health Department Launches Campaign To Reduce New Yorkers’ Risk of Alcohol-Related Cancers
Today, the NYC Health Department launched a new citywide education campaign warning New Yorkers that drinking alcohol increases cancer risk. Alcohol is a known carcinogen: consuming even one drink a day increases the risk for at least seven types of cancer, including breast, colorectum, esophagus, voice box, liver, mouth, and throat.
https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/about/press/pr2026/nyc-health-campaign-to-reduce-alcohol-related-cancers.page

Medical News Today - Even a little alcohol here and there damages brain health, study shows
Whether someone is grocery shopping or dining out, alcohol is almost everywhere. While moderate alcohol use is considered “low-risk,” more research is coming out that shows there may truly be no safe amount of alcohol.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/even-a-little-alcohol-here-and-there-damages-brain-health

VisaHQ - Ryanair CEO seeks ban on early-morning alcohol sales at airports to curb in-flight disruption
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has urged Irish and UK regulators to prohibit the sale of alcohol in airport bars before normal pub licensing hours—typically 10 a.m.—to stem a surge in unruly passenger incidents.
https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-05-06/ie/ryanair-ceo-seeks-ban-on-early-morning-alcohol-sales-at-airports-to-curb-in-flight-disruption/

The Korea Times (South Korea) - Korea to add drunk driving warnings to alcohol bottle labels in November
Liquor bottles in Korea will be required to carry warning text or images about the dangers of drunk driving, as part of efforts to curb alcohol-related harm.
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/society/20260508/korea-to-add-drunk-driving-warnings-to-alcohol-bottle-labels-in-november

Medical Xpress - Study urges alcohol drinkers to be aware of emotional state
While, historically, men in the United States have tended to drink more than women, that trend has reversed over the last decade, prompting a University of Rhode Island behavioral science psychology student to study the implications of the shift, and examine how emotion and craving are impacting alcohol use among women.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-urges-alcohol-drinkers-aware-emotional.html

La Trobe University - Living with a heavy-drinking partner
A study from graduate researcher, Amany Tanyos, is shedding light on the often-overlooked harms experienced by people living with a heavy-drinking partner.
https://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/announcements/2026/living-with-a-heavy-drinking-partner

Alcohol Change (UK) - Meet the runners going the distance to end alcohol härm
April was an outstanding month for our challenge events, with some of the biggest running days of the year all landing at once.
https://alcoholchange.org.uk/blog/meet-the-runners-going-the-distance-to-end-alcohol-harm

SHAAP (Scotland) - The alcohol industry targets women – but alcohol policies are largely gender-blind
The alcohol industry has women in its sights — and it’s getting more sophisticated by the year. Where once sexualised images of women were used to sell alcohol to men, brands now court women directly.
https://www.shaap.org.uk/the-alcohol-industry-targets-women-but-alcohol-policies-are-largely-gender-blind/

PopNAD (Finland) - Between prohibition and World War II: Finnish local alcohol policy in the spotlight
In her doctoral dissertation, historian PhD Pirjo Ovaskainen studied how three Finnish cities - Tampere, Kuopio, and Jyväskylä - adapted to the post-Prohibition era between 1932 and 1939. Ovaskainen claims that the cities wanted to have more influence over local alcohol policies than they were actually allowed.
https://nordicwelfare.org/popnad/en/artiklar/between-prohibition-and-world-war-ii-finnish-local-alcohol-policy-in-the-spotlight/

NordAN (Sweden) - Movendi: The Alcohol Act should protect people, keep the food-service requirement
Today, Thursday 7 May, the Swedish Parliament votes on the government’s proposal to abolish the so-called food-service requirement for alcohol serving licences. Movendi is critical of the proposal and wants the Alcohol Act to continue protecting people’s health, ensuring a reasonable working environment, and supporting safety in everyday life.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/movendi-the-alcohol-act-should-protect-people-keep-the-food-service-requirement

Medical Xpress - One pint, one bold promise: What this beer health claim hides about alcohol's real trade-offs
Beer could come with a "surprising health benefit," according to a new report from the BBC. This must be pleasing news for beer drinkers everywhere. But what did the new study the BBC report was based on actually say? And does it stand up to scrutiny?
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-pint-bold-beer-health-alcohol.html

NordAN (Finland) - Substance use and addiction services in transition, contacts are moving to basic services, where structures and competence must be strengthened
Substance use and addiction services are in a transition phase, in which service contacts are increasingly focused on basic services. The change offers opportunities for earlier support and more effective referral to treatment, but it requires determined development of service structures, cooperation and professional competence in basic services.
https://www.nordicalcohol.org/post/substance-use-and-addiction-services-in-transition-contacts-are-moving-to-basic-services-where-str

Alcohol and Cancer - Updated alcohol warning labels may prompt people to cut back: Study
Although the United States requires a warning label on alcoholic beverages, alcohol-related deaths have risen steadily over the past two decades. However, new labels warning of specific disease risks, including cancer and liver disease, could better motivate reduced drinking, according to a new study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
https://www.alcoholandcancer.eu/post/updated-alcohol-warning-labels-may-prompt-people-to-cut-back-study

Alcohol and Cancer - Norwegian study suggests alcohol may raise bowel cancer risk partly through changes in gut bacteria
A new Norwegian study has added to the evidence linking alcohol consumption with colorectal cancer development, while also exploring a possible biological pathway through the gut microbiome.
https://www.alcoholandcancer.eu/post/norwegian-study-suggests-alcohol-may-raise-bowel-cancer-risk-partly-through-changes-in-gut-bacteria

FASD News - 17/2026

National FASD (UK) - FASD Cannot Be Ignored
The Department of Health and Social Care has published the “Independent Review into Mental Health Conditions, ADHD and Autism: Interim Report” (March 2026). This report does not yet name FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) as a driver or lens for the identified “rising distress” and “growing difficulty” in the related services – and National FASD considers that is a material gap.
https://nationalfasd.org.uk/fasd-cannot-be-ignored/

CBC (Canada) - Advocates say N.S. needs strategy to help people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
When Rochelle Howlett and her son Aaron were contemplating where he would go to college, it didn’t take long before they settled on a school in New Brunswick — a province with wraparound support for people living with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorder-supports-advocates-9.7179919

Global News (Canada) - Group calls on Ontario to redirect alcohol revenue to deal with harms of drinking
As the Ford government moves to allow more public alcohol consumption, after expanding beer and wine sales and lowering some taxes, one group is imploring the province to redirect a portion of revenue to education and prevention.
https://globalnews.ca/news/11823184/ontario-fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorder-call/

MSN - If your mom drank even a little during pregnancy you're far more likely to develop a dangerous habit
Women who drink alcohol during pregnancy are more likely to have children who grow up vulnerable to alcohol dependence, a major study suggests.
https://www.msn.com/en-ae/news/other/if-your-mom-drank-even-a-little-during-pregnancy-you-re-far-more-likely-to-develop-a-dangerous-habit/

Frontiers in Public Health - Ireland's silent epidemic: Why FASD can't be ignored anymore
Historically, pregnant women in Ireland were advised to drink stout for its supposed iron-boosting benefits, a myth which has become culturally ingrained across parents and medical professionals.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1781199/full

FASD-CAN (New Zealand) - Tītoki: A connection pathway for rangatahi with FASD
FASD-CAN supports a group of rangatahi / young people and adults living with FASD via a globally-innovative, co-led programme of events that the cohort has named ‘Tītoki’ (previously IDP – Individuals Development Programme).
https://www.fasd-can.org.nz/titoki

CanFASD (Canada) - Launching the FASD Identification, Assessment and Diagnosis Hub
A major step forward in supporting individuals and families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) has arrived with the launch of the new Identification, Assessment and Diagnosis (IAD) Hub.
https://canfasd.ca/2026/04/22/launching-the-fasd-identification-assessment-and-diagnosis-hub/

CanFASD - A five-step guide to FASD Month event planning
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Month is a wonderful opportunity to bring people together, spark conversations, and raise awareness in your community. This year’s theme is Everyone Plays a Part: It Takes a Community. Across Canada, communities are finding creative ways to get involved – some by hosting their own events, others by weaving awareness into existing community spaces.
https://canfasd.ca/2026/04/29/a-five-step-guide-to-fasd-month-event-planning/

Medium - The Five-Percent Recovery
Long-haul FASD caregivers are good at fantasizing about big fixes, but those are really about having a different life… things like more sleep, fewer demands on the plate, a kid with fewer hard days, or a system that actually supports FASD.
https://medium.com/%40FASDElephant/april-17-the-five-percent-recovery-2aab7890e822

 

VIDEOS and WEBINARS
Undivided - How FASD Is Recognized and Diagnosed — and Why It’s Often Missed
Roxanne Chang, MD, pediatrician at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and assistant clinical professor at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA explains why fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is frequently overlooked and what providers should be watching for instead.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNIoJF_q5zI

Undivided - Tips for Supporting a Child With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
Even without an FASD diagnosis, early support matters. Roxanne Chang, MD, pediatrician at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and assistant clinical professor at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, explains why children with prenatal alcohol exposure benefit from monitoring, co-regulation, and environmental supports — and why behavior-based approaches often don’t work for kids with FASD.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apxt6PILMB4

Undivided - Brain-Based Differences in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) are often misunderstood when their behaviors are seen as defiance. Eileen Devine, LCSW, therapist, parent coach, consultant, and trainer, explains how brain-based differences shape behavior and how a brain-first approach helps parents better support regulation and learning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlfF0lhNaKQ

Undivided - FASD and Behavior: Why a Brain-First Approach Works Better
Traditional behavior strategies often focus on compliance, but children with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) need support for brain-based differences and fragile nervous systems. Eileen Devine, LCSW, therapist, parent coach, consultant, and trainer, explains how a brain-first approach and co-regulation help kids thrive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=829p8ZIRwFM

CanFASD - Understanding the Impact of Trauma in PAE and FASD
In this webinar recording, presenters will share current research examining the effects of trauma and adversity on individuals with PAE and FASD, explain why there is a need for more collaborative approaches to interventions and give examples of real world implications.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbWRxm5ogNY

Walsall Safeguarding Partnership - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Raising, multi agency briefing
This briefing session has been developed in light of learning identified within recent reviews in Walsall and Wolverhampton highlighting the need to strengthen awareness, identification, and support for children affected by FASD.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOKgkJXdMQA

VCHIP - Understanding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: From Stigma to Support
Presented at the Improving Care of Newborns with Substance Exposure (ICoNS) Statewide Conference on April 7, 2026, hosted by the Perinatal Quality Collaborative Vermont (PQC-VT).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB9O5ph_-6w

OhioDBH - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder and Substance Use Disorder in the Correctio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1STN-x221Y0

Patricia Kasper, Your FASD Coach - Navigating Life with FASD: A Personal Journey with FASD podcaster & educator Jake Tjapkes
In this episode of Living with FASD, host Patti Kasper engages in a deep conversation with Jake Tjapkes, who shares his personal journey with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI6LT0Uip44

Patricia Kasper, Your FASD Coach - Finding Calm in Chaos: Practical Strategies for Emotional Regulation with AJ Loashio
In this episode, Patti Kasper and AJ Locascio delve back into the complexities of emotional regulation, exploring practical strategies to help individuals ground themselves and regain a sense of safety.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poN3jWJEZ3g

WFAA - Expert testimony: Dr. Julian Davies links brain development issues to Tanner Horner
A clinical professor of pediatrics and expert on fetal alcohol syndrome, Dr. Julian Davies, testified during the sentencing phase of Tanner Horner’s trial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK_rHMOqLmU

Harrison's Hope FASD - From Crisis to Connection: Brain-Based Parenting Strategies for FASD with Barb Clark
In this powerful and deeply practical webinar, Barb Clark shares lived experience and brain-based strategies for supporting individuals with FASD.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-0tzc27ArM

 

RESEARCH
Children - An Exploration of Language and Communication Profiles in a Clinical Sample of People with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Seen in the UK National FASD Clinic
These results suggest the potential clinical utility of using the CCC as a measure of an individual’s language functioning as part of an FASD assessment, particularly in the absence of access to direct assessment carried out by a SaLT.
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/13/5/611

Children - Lived Experiences of Adoptive Parents Raising Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Israel: A Qualitative Study
This study’s findings underscore the need for improved professional training, clearer diagnostic pathways, FASD-informed educational practices, and coordinated multidisciplinary services.
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/13/5/597

Corewell Health - Diagnostic Yield of Clinical Genetic Testing in a Cohort of Pediatric Patients Undergoing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Evaluation
In utero ethanol exposure can affect facial features, growth, and neurodevelopment, producing a range of clinical findings collectively termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
https://scholarlyworks.corewellhealth.org/corewellhealth_west_research_confabstract/206/

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona - Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) among Children Adopted from Eastern European Countries : Russia and Ukraine
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of FASD in adopted children. Children between the ages of 8 and 24 adopted from Russia and Ukraine were evaluated for clinical and historical features of FASD.
https://recercat.cat/handle/2072/458697

Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy - Seizures in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD): evaluation of clinical, electroencephalographic, and neuroradiologic features in a large sample of Norwegian children
Both the Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines and the four-digit diagnostic code consider epilepsy as a potential contributing feature in FAS/FASD classification. Although our cohort demonstrated an increased frequency of epilepsy, three cases may be better explained by genetic or idiopathic mechanisms rather than FASD.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1059131126001123

Frontiers in Psychology - The Developmental–Diagnostic Gap: Cultural Invisibility and Delayed Recognition of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
Earlier recognition of neurodevelopmental disruption may improve developmental outcomes by enabling timely, developmentally informed support and reducing the accumulation of secondary harm.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1836200/abstract

Public Health Institute Journal - A qualitative systematic review of caregiver experiences raising children and adolescents with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
Providing care for children with FASD can be extremely difficult, particularly when experts don't fully understand the condition. Faster diagnosis, better-trained personnel, and additional support—such as peer groups and respite care—are all necessary for families.
https://openjournals.ljmu.ac.uk/PHIJ/article/view/3567

University of Lynchburg - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Improving the Diagnosis
These findings emphasize how vital it is for medical personnel to compile intervention strategies to get ahead of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, to decrease the lifelong effects that accompany it.
https://digitalshowcase.lynchburg.edu/studentshowcase/2026/poster/32/

Paediatrics & Child Health - National surveillance for new cases of fetal alcohol spectrum - a fictional clinical vignette
George is a fictional 10-year-old White boy who presents to your paediatric clinic with challenges in his academic functioning, attention and impulse control, emotional regulation, motor coordination, and language abilities.
https://academic.oup.com/pch/advance-article/doi/10.1093/pch/pxag023/8654372?guestAccessKey=

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth - Impact of the severity of maternal depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as alcohol consumption, on perinatal outcomes
Moderate-to-severe anxiety, depression, PTSD, and alcohol use during pregnancy were associated with reduced neonatal head circumference. These findings underscore the importance of early screening and intervention for maternal mental health and alcohol use.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12884-026-09179-x

Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities - A Mixed Methods Analysis of Risk and Support Factors for Prenatal Alcohol and Substance Use Among American Indian/Alaska Native Birthing People
Alcohol and substance use (A/SU) during pregnancy is intertwined with social determinants of health, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and intimate partner violence (IPV).
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40615-026-02987-z

International Journal of Drug Policy - Alcohol industry arguments about mandatory pregnancy warning labels: A qualitative analysis of industry submissions in Australia and New Zealand
Arguments made in industry submissions were reflected in subsequent alterations to the warning label design and the length of the transition period. This study contributes to remedying a paucity of research on industry arguments against pregnancy warning labels and offers insights for international alcohol policymaking.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S095539592600143X

 

IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Clinica dell'Alcolismo (Italy) - L’impalcatura genitoriale nei bambini con disturbi dello spettro feto-alcolico: la governance di una vasta gamma di deficit
https://journals.francoangeli.it/index.php/mission-oa/article/view/22235

SAFFrance (France) - Qu’attend-on pour prévenir le syndrome d’alcoolisation fœtale?
Durant l’examen du budget de la Sécurité sociale dans un contexte de tensions financières extrêmes, un amendement déposé par le député réunionnais Perceval Gaillard a été adopté à l’Assemblée nationale sur un sujet majeur trop longtemps passé sous les radars : la prévention du syndrome d’alcoolisation fœtale (SAF) et des troubles causés par l’alcoolisation fœtale (TSAF).
https://campagne.saffrance.com/tribune-dans-le-figaro-avril-2026/

Skövde Nyheter (Sweden) - Fosterskador av alkohol kan vara vanligare än man trott
Fosterskador orsakade av alkohol under graviditeten kan vara vanligare än man tidigare trott. En ny pilotstudie visar att över fem procent av de undersökta barnen har tecken på alkoholrelaterade skador.
https://www.skovdenyheter.se/fosterskador-av-alkohol-kan-vara-vanligare-an-man-trott/