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Friday, March 15, 2024

Alcohol News - 11/2024

The Conversation (Australia) - Mother’s little helper: interviews with Australian women show a complex relationship with alcohol
Men have historically, and still do, drink more than women. But in recent years there has been an uptick in women’s drinking, particularly among women in their late 30s through to their 60s.
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CTV News (Canada) - Alcohol excise tax capped at two per cent for two more years, Freeland announces
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the federal government will cap the annual alcohol excise tax increase on beer, spirits and wine at two per cent for an additional two years.
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ERR (Estonia) - Fire-related deaths rise in Estonia due to alcohol and indoor smoking
The alarmingly high number of deaths in the first two months of the year in Estonia due to fires can generally be attributed to indoor smoking and alcohol, said Janika Usin, head of the prevention department at the Rescue Board, in Vikerraadio's morning show.
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The Telegraph (South Africa) - South Africa’s alcohol addiction and the disabled newborns paying the price
South Africa’s Western Cape is known for its dramatic coastlines and acres of wineland. But behind the blue skies and rolling hills, the province is grappling with a heartbreaking health crisis.
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Irish Examiner (Ireland) - Sheila Gilheany: Extending alcohol trading hours extends the harm
A one-hour extension of trading hours would equate to a 16% increase in alcohol-related crime, a 30% increase in road collisions in rural areas, and a 34% increase in alcohol-related injuries
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Medical Xpress - Alcohol use disorder linked to increased odds of suicide mortality
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is associated with suicide mortality, with a similar association seen across the sexes, according to a review and meta-analysis published online March 12 in JAMA Network Open.
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Cancer Council (Australia) - The Sick-Quitter Effect: Alcohol-related death has been underestimated over the past 30 years
New research led by the Daffodil Centre, a joint venture between Cancer Council NSW and the University of Sydney, has identified that alcohol may cause more deaths than previously thought, as evidence reviews over the past 30 years may have underestimated the number of deaths caused by alcohol due to an issue called the ‘sick-quitter effect’.
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VRT (Belgium) - Green light for stricter rules on the sale of tobacco and alcohol
The Federal Parliament has approved a bill tabled by the Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke (Flemish socialist) that tightens the rules regarding the sale of tobacco and alcohol.
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Vietnam News (Vietnam) - Zero-tolerance policy for driving under alcohol influence affirmed in draft law
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Friday discussed the draft law on Traffic Order and Safety, which will maintain the zero-tolerance policy for driving under the influence of alcohol.
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WHO (Ukraine) - Alcohol taxation and pricing policies and their impact on alcohol consumption in Ukraine from 2011– 2021: country report
This report provides an overview of Ukraine's taxation and pricing policies for alcoholic beverages between 2011 and 2021. The report also provides insights into the health consequences of alcohol consumption and endeavours to establish links and correlations between alcohol taxation, pricing, affordability and decreased consumption.
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IAS Blog (Netherlands) - The game the alcohol industry played with the Dutch National Prevention Agreement
In 2018, Paul Blokhuis (then State Secretary of Health, Welfare and Sport) announced the National Prevention Agreement with the aim of a healthier Netherlands in 2040 by reducing smoking, obesity and problematic alcohol use.
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NordAN (Denmark) - Danish young people: Parents are welcome to interfere in our drinking habits
Parents should not hesitate to make agreements about alcohol with their child, shows a new study. It can be difficult as a parent to assess how much you can and should interfere in your child's drinking habits.
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Sunday, March 10, 2024

FASD News - 10/2024

Lake Country Calendar (Canada) - West Kelowna student shares his experience living with FASD
Middle school student Sebastian Gould appeared before the Central Okanagan Board of Education last Wednesday to shine a light on the struggles and victories he experiences daily as a student diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
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The Conversation (USA) - Hundreds of thousands of US infants every year pay the consequences of prenatal exposure to drugs, a growing crisis particularly in rural America
Nearly 1 in 12 newborns in the United States in 2020 – or about 300,000 infants – were exposed to alcohol, opioids, marijuana or cocaine before they were born.
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FASD United (USA) - Embracing Potential with Dr. Eric Flake: National Developmental Disabilities Month
March marks a significant time of recognition and advocacy as we celebrate National Developmental Disabilities Month. This annual observance provides a platform to raise awareness, promote inclusion, and celebrate the unique abilities and contributions of individuals with developmental disabilities.
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FASD United (USA) - National Caregiver’s Day: Interview with FASD United’s Laura Bousquet
As we close out February, we want to celebrate National Caregiver’s Day, February 16th. To do this, we celebrate Laura Bousquet, an extraordinary caregiver and advocate in the FASD community.
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Research Features - Developing a diagnostic test for foetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can affect the baby’s development, causing physical and mental problems, such as low body weight, behavioural issues, learning disabilities, damage to vital organs including eyes and kidneys, and abnormal facial features.
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CanFASD (Canada) - Provincial Alcohol Policies: Learning from Quebec
Each province in Canada has different policies and resources surrounding alcohol. In this new series, we will look at what is happening in each province to provide insight into how we can learn from each other.
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CanFASD (Canada) - FASD Lived Experience Leadership Fund: Increasing Research Participation
People with lived experience must be at the table when discussing research, policy, and practice. However, economic inequality is often a barrier to the “Nothing About Us, Without Us” principle, which CanFASD fully endorses.
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FASD Hub Australia (Australia) - One Drink campaign proves efficacy in supporting the reduction of alcohol use in pregnancy
The ‘One Drink’ campaign aims to increase awareness that there is no safe amount or time to drink alcohol during pregnancy. Evaluation outcomes have been published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health proving the advertising campaign created significant awareness among pregnant women, those planning a pregnancy – including  men and women – and the broader community of the risks associated with drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
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FARE Australia - International Women’s Day: Five female perspectives on alcohol harms
When our community comes together and speaks openly about alcohol harms and how we can take steps to reduce our alcohol intake, the impacts can be life-changing.
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VIDEOS and MATERIALS
Drug Education Network - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Handbook Launch 2023
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FASD Hub Australia - One Drink campaign proves efficacy in supporting the reduction of alcohol use in pregnancy
The ‘One Drink’ campaign aims to increase awareness that there is no safe amount or time to drink alcohol during pregnancy. Evaluation outcomes have been published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health proving the advertising campaign created significant awareness.
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FASD United - FASD United Policy Forum - February 2024
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Patricia Kasper, Your FASD Coach - Beyond the Diagnosis: Danielle’s Quest for Understanding and Advocacy in FASD
Danielle's story is one of resilience and self-discovery, as she recounts the anger and frustration she felt upon learning of her condition, and how it explained the challenges she faced throughout her life, particularly with reading, writing, and math.
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Brant FASD Support Group - FASD: Issues in Caregiving - Supporting Oneself in Order to Support Others with Dan Dubovsky
Caregiving for a person with FASD is often very stressful, especially if those surrounding the individual do not recognize the basis of their behaviors. They are then often seen as willful and need to be consequenced in order to learn.
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Patricia Kasper, Your FASD Coach - The Mosaic of Mind: Josh Bechtel on the Art of Navigating FASD
In this heartfelt episode of Living with FASD, join host Patti Kasper as she engages in an intimate and enlightening conversation with Josh Bechtel, an adoptee, poet, author, artist, and editor. With his creative spirit and candid reflections, Josh shares his journey of discovery and understanding of living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
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Viviana Aguilar - SOWK 322 Group 1: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder
If you have never heard of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD), we hope you learn through our presentation! We cover symptoms & characteristics, strengths, resources, and more.
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Laura Gumbiner - FASD Diagnostic SIG 03/01/2024
This month's diagnostic SIG compared four common methods for diagnosing an FASD. Discussion of common issues ensued.
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Positive Recovery Centers - The Biggest Barriers to a Healthy Pregnancy with Dr. Rajesh Miranda and Ph.D & Leah Davies, LMSW
In this week’s episode, we are talking with Dr. Rajesh Miranda, P.h.D and Leah Davies, LMSW as we discuss the shame and stigma around Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and how stress is a common denominator that negatively affects both pregnant women and their families.
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The raw and the real of FASD - Tips and Tricks we implemented with our FASD diagnosed children
As parents of children diagnosed with FASD, we took a lot (and we still take A LOT) of training about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Here are a few tips and tricks that we use all the time in our day-to-day lives. Let's normalize the use of strategies at all times.
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FMF India - FMFI Fetal Alchohol Spectrum disorder Webinar
Paper discussion: Fetal MRI based brain atlas analysis detects initial in utero effects of prenatal alcohol exposure.
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FASD One - New release of 4 PSA’s on FASD ONE YouTube Channel
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Ontario Network of Expertise (FASD ONE) proudly announces the release of 4 public service announcements dedicated to preventing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
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FASD Family Podcast - Season 5 Episode 1 - Be The Change
Welcome to the FASD Family Life Podcast. I am your host, Robbie Seale, FASD specialist, with more than 25 years experience raising kids with prenatal alcohol exposure and trauma
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Fasd Success Show - #148 Transforming FASD Through Peer Mentorship
Episode #148 - Discover the Impact: Transforming FASD with Peer Mentorship - takes us on a journey into the heart of connection, empathy, and empowerment with Tracy, Catherine and Nicole.
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RESEARCH
Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders - Underrepresented Caregivers in Research on Prenatal Alcohol Exposure: A Meta-Analysis and Scoping Review
The results of this study suggest that (a) non-adoptive parents, (b) caregivers who were male, non-White, non-partnered, less educated, and living outside of the United States, and (c) caregivers of adolescents, and caregivers raising children with PAE who have not received an FASD diagnosis are currently underrepresented in the research; however, this literature is limited and requires further research.
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Cells - Alcohol Exposure Induces Nucleolar Stress and Apoptosis in Mouse Neural Stem Cells and Late-Term Fetal Brain
This is the first report describing that pharmacologically relevant alcohol levels suppress ribosome biogenesis, induce nucleolar stress in neuronal populations, and involve the ribosomal/MDM2/p53 pathway to cause growth arrest and apoptosis. This represents a novel mechanism of alcohol-mediated neuronal damage.
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International Journal of Molecular Sciences - Independent and Combined Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Prenatal Stress on Fetal HPA Axis Development
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and prenatal stress (PS) are highly prevalent conditions known to affect fetal programming of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
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The Journal of Pediatrics - The Impact of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Longitudinal Growth, Nutritional Status, and IGF-1 in Early Childhood in Leyte, The Philippines
This study demonstrates a delayed impact of PAE on growth that manifested around 6 months of age, underscoring the importance of routine clinical monitoring in early childhood.
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American Journal of Preventive Medicine - Paternal pre-conceptional alcohol use disorder with the offspring's mortality risk
Offspring of fathers with AUD before conception had higher mortality risk from birth to early adulthood, especially when AUD diagnosis is close to conception.
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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - Reach, Acceptability, and Sustainability of the Native Changing High-Risk Alcohol Use and Increasing Contraception Effectiveness Study (CHOICES) Intervention: A Qualitative Evaluation of an Alcohol-Exposed Pregnancy Prevention Program
The findings showed the receptivity to and acceptance of Native CHOICES among AI women. The interview findings offered a glimpse into the effectiveness of Native CHOICES and how it contributed to participants making healthier choices surrounding drinking and sexual health.
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Psychiatry Research - Co-occurrence of mental illness and substance use among US pregnant individuals, 2012-2021
Pregnant individuals with greater severity of mental illness were more likely to engage in substance use. Evidence-based educational, screening and treatment services, and public policy changes are warranted to mitigate the harmful health outcomes of substance use among US pregnant individuals with mental illness.
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IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Spark Deutschland (Germany) - Alkohol in der Schwangerschaft - So krass sind die Folgen
Wenn die Mutter in der Schwangerschaft Alkohol trinkt, kommt das Kind wahrscheinlich mit einer fetalen Alkoholspektrum-Störung (FASD).
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Erziehungsbüro Rheinland gGmbH (Germany) - Pädagogische Fachtagung zu FASD und Trauma
Familien mit Kindern mit unsichtbaren Behinderungen wie FASD und/oder Trauma haben im Alltag besondere Herausforderungen zu bewältigen - für alle Beteiligten ein Seiltanz!
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Friday, March 8, 2024

Alcohol News - 10/2024

World Health Organization (WHO) - Shouldn’t we know this already? The link between alcohol and breast cancer
Many people across the WHO European Region will celebrate 8 March, International Women’s Day, by raising a glass of an alcoholic beverage – oblivious to the fact that drinking alcohol is a major risk factor for the most common cancer among women, breast cancer.
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BBC - Why alcohol is so dangerous for young adults' brains
From the myth of Europeans' "healthy drinking culture" to the surprising harm of some common family traditions, science is overturning old beliefs around alcohol and young people.
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Reuters - Alcohol policies need sharper focus on gender, WHO says
The World Health Organization on Friday urged governments to consider gender when developing their alcohol policies, warning that industry marketing increasingly targeted women who face greater health risks than men from lower levels of drinking.
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CBS News (USA) - Excessive alcohol deaths surged during pandemic, CDC data shows
The COVID-19 pandemic caused isolation and stress, and a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report shows more people lost their lives after reaching for the bottle to cope.
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PBS (USA) - What’s behind the stunning rise in alcohol-related deaths
Alcohol is one of the most commonly used drugs in America, and it is also one of the deadliest, with more and more people losing their lives to alcohol-related causes over the last two decades.
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The Reykjavik Grapevine (Iceland) - Majority Against Strong Alcohol In Grocery Stores
New polling from Maskína suggests that 58% of Icelanders are against allowing the sale of strong alcohol in supermarkets. On the other hand, 49% of respondents were in favour of permitting the sale of wine and beer in grocery stores.
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News-Medical - Study reveals parental concerns over rise of zero-alcohol drinks among adolescents
New research from Flinders University has revealed that parents are feeling conflicted, confused and concerned when it comes to zero-alcohol beer, wine and spirts and adolescents.
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The Brussels Times (Belgium) - Alcohol sector revamps advertising amid growing health concerns
In a bid to enhance public awareness of the perils of alcohol abuse, the alcohol sector is poised to overhaul its marketing strategies by incorporating the new cautionary message 'Alcohol abuse harms health' into ads from this summer.
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Addiction - Misleading conclusion from limited research approach
It is disappointing to see the Addiction publication ‘Restricting alcohol marketing to reduce alcohol consumption: A systematic review of the empirical evidence for one of the “best buys”’ reaching a misleading conclusion that evidence does not justify a ban on alcohol marketing as a ‘best buy’ (while mentioning evidence of the impacts of exposure to alcohol marketing, such as initiation of drinking and heavier drinking).
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IAS Blog - Why do countries with high alcohol taxes still have high rates of alcohol harm?
There are a great many reasons for why alcohol tax rates vary so much across different European countries, and between product types within-country.
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New Hampshire Bulletin - In marketing, difference between alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages should be crystal clear
About two years ago, when I was craving the taste of childhood, I found myself wandering the store with friends in search of something that fit the bill. I caught sight of the classic tall mint green can and rushed toward the cooler.
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Brno Daily (Czech Republic) - Czech Republic Reports Over 500 Annual Fatalities Due to Alcohol Intoxication
Hundreds of people die each year in the Czech Republic of alcohol intoxication. In 2022, the figure was 504, national drug coordinator Jindrich Voboril told reporters after a meeting of the Government Council for Addiction Policy Coordination this week.
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Movendi - Movendi International Calls on IOC to End Sponsorship Deal with Big Alcohol and Rather Prioritize Child Rights
We all want to see our children healthy and happy. People care deeply about thriving children who grow up in safe and healthy environments to live up to their fullest potential. “Building a better world through sport” is the IOC vision, where sport is meant to serve humankind.
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News Medical - Nomogram could be a game-changer for predicting alcohol-related liver cancer risk
Liver cancer, unfortunately, is the sixth most common cancer and the third most frequent cause of cancer-related death globally. However, its distribution and causes vary greatly across different regions.
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AlcoholAndCancer - Pink ribbon marketing on alcohol reveals need for ‘pinkwashing’ awareness
Products with pink ribbons on their labels are a common sight in stores, especially during Breast Cancer Awareness Month every October. Brands and companies frequently incorporate pink into their marketing, leveraging the strong awareness the pink ribbon carries in American culture to create an impression of social responsibility and increase sales.
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NordAN (Denmark) - Your lifestyle can determine how well your medicine works
By examining liver samples from 116 deceased people with severe mental illness, researchers from the Department of Forensic Medicine show that smoking, overweight and alcohol abuse can play a decisive role in how well - or poorly - medicine works for the individual patient.
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NordAN (Sweden) - Youth who abstain from alcohol have a better relationship with their parents and fewer social contacts
Fewer and fewer youths are drinking. Those who abstain have fewer social contacts but also exhibit fewer problem behaviors and have a more open relationship with their parents than those who drink, a new study shows.
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Sunday, February 25, 2024

FASD News - 8/2024


EUFASD - New member of the EUFASD Alliance
The EUFASD Alliance welcomes our new member organization, Fremtidens børn (Children of the future), from Denmark. Fremtidens børn work to increase knowledge and prevent children from being exposed to alcohol, drugs, violence and trauma.
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popNAD (Finland) - Use of alcohol and/or illicit drugs during pregnancy and long-term consequences for child development
Consuming alcohol and/or illicit drugs when pregnant can have serious consequences on a wide range of issues for the child. In her doctoral dissertation, Niina-Maria Nissinen studied how Finnish youth exposed to maternal substance abuse during pregnancy were performing at the age of 18 to 24 years in terms of secondary education, financial self-supporting and mental health compared with youth without registered evidence of maternal substance use during pregnancy.
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CBC (Canada) - How FASD Classrooms in the Winnipeg School Division are Helping Kids Thrive
Lorelei Bunkowsky, Assistant Superintendent with the Winnipeg School Division, explains to host Marcy Markusa what a difference an FASD diagnosis can make in a child's life, since they can attend classes for kids with FASD
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CanFASD (Canada) - Advocate for people with FASD in Public Health Consultation
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is leading a consultation to inform their Vision 2030 initiative – a plan that looks to shape the future of public health in our country.
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NoFASD Australia (Australia) - PARENTING WITH FASD
I am not sure how many people at this point know, but in early 2020 I became a Mom through adoption.  The adoption was completed in September 2020. It began six years before the writing of this, when a very special and wonderful little boy walked through my door and into my heart.
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MedicalXpress - Study shows importance of coaching as part of lifestyle programs for women planning pregnancy
Personalized support by health professionals is critical to optimizing women's engagement and motivation in lifestyle programs, and improves outcomes for women planning to conceive, Monash University research has found.
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Holes in the Wall (UK) - The experiences of families caring for children with FASD: “no one came to help”
It is suggested that the prevalence of foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is greater than autism, and yet there remains significantly less understanding of this issue, information for families and practitioners, and support for those impacted by the condition.
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FARE (Australia) - “There could be greater awareness in the community about the affects of alcohol during pregnancy”
It takes a village to raise a child – and to support a woman during pregnancy. Partners, friends and family can all play an important role in helping someone to achieve an alcohol-free pregnancy.
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Relay - Alcohol-Free Wine and Pregnancy
When it comes to non-alcoholic wine and beer during pregnancy, it is best to err on the side of caution and avoid these beverages. While the alcohol content in non-alcoholic options may be significantly lower than in their alcoholic counterparts, there is still a risk of consuming alcohol, even in small amounts.
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VIDEOS and MATERIALS
The Matilda Centre - Learning with FASD: The referral, assessment, and diagnostic process for FASD
The webinar is aimed at primary school teaching and support staff and provides an overview of the referral, assessment, and diagnostic process for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) for an education audience.
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FASD United - FASD United Affiliate Meeting - February 15, 2024
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CanFASD - Transitioning into Adulthood with FASD: Perspectives from Research and Lived Experience
In this webinar recording, presenters cover the topic of the challenges and benefits of transitioning from youth to adulthood while living with FASD. Viewers will learn from a researcher studying the experiences of adults with FASD, their caregivers, and other supportive individuals during the transition to adulthood.
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FASD Awareness - Tracy Allen -Transitioning into adulthood and supported living. Webinar #24
In this webinar we welcome back Tracy Allen (Founder of FASD Awareness) to discuss how to empower FASD individuals to take the next steps into “greater independence as they are transitioning into adulthood”
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Patricia Kasper, Your FASD Coach - FASD, Foster Care & Future Generations, with Dr. Susan Rich
In this compelling episode, we tackle the staggering prevalence of Neurodevelopmental Disorder from Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (ND-PAE) within foster care and question the efficacy of current social services. Are we truly aiding these children, or are we exacerbating their struggles?
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Patricia Kasper, Your FASD Coach - FASD & Education: Beyond Diagnosis in IEP Meetings
In this insightful episode of Living with FASD, we delve into the complexities of navigating the education system for children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.
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Fasd Justice - FASD & the Justice System: A Better Understanding - Part III
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The Liberated Healer Podcast - ALCOHOL ABUSE when pregnant, What are the signs? LIVING and LEARNING
Patti is committed to improving children's lives by providing practical tools to parents and professionals who care for children with brain-based differences, whose behaviors are reflective of either brain changes that resulted from exposure to prenatal toxins and/or from trauma, or reflective of the poor fit between their cognitive abilities and the world's expectations of them.
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OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences Grand Rounds - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Doctor & Patient Perspectives
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Fasd Success Show - #146: Navigating the Swear Storms: Understanding FASD and Swearing
Strap in for an unflinching dive into one of the more colorful aspects of FASD caregiving - navigating the world of swearing. In Episode #146 of The FASD Success Show, host Jeff Noble takes us through the whys and hows of swearing in individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), offering a blueprint for understanding and managing these outbursts.
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RESEARCH
Children - Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Metabolic Disorders in Pediatrics: The Role of the Oxidative Stress—A Review of the Literature
Prenatal alcohol exposure is responsible for increasing chronic disease risk in later life, including obesity and metabolic syndrome. Alcohol drinking may compromise endogenous antioxidant capacity, causing an increase in free radicals and reactive oxygen species in the newborn.
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Neuroscience - Sex-specific differences in resting oscillatory dynamics in children with prenatal alcohol exposure
At rest children with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) exhibit impaired static and dynamic functional connectivity, along with decreased alpha oscillations. Sex-specific information regarding the impact of PAE on whole-brain resting-state gamma spectral power remains unknown.
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Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family - ‘No one believed us: no one came to help’: caregivers' experiences of violence and abuse involving children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Child and adolescent-to-parent violence and abuse (CAPVA) refers to abusive and violent behaviours by children towards their parents or primary caregivers.
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Frontiers in Public Health - Racial and ethnic disparities in psychological care for individuals with FASD: A Dis/ability Studies and Critical Race Theory perspective towards improving prevention, assessment/diagnosis, and intervention Running head: Racial and ethnic disparities in FASD
FASD can affect people of all races and ethnicities; however, there are important racial and ethnic disparities in alcoholexposed pregnancy prevention, assessment and diagnosis of FASD, and interventions to support individuals with FASD and their families.
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Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis - Constitutional chromosomal anomalies in children, fetal alcohol syndrome, and maternal toxicant exposures: A longitudinal cohort study
DNA alterations in gametes, which may occur either spontaneously or as a result of exposure to genotoxicants, can lead to constitutional chromosomal anomalies in the offspring. Alcohol is an established genotoxicant.
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Research Square - Validation of the ND-PAE Diagnosis in Children with Heavy Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
This study evaluated criteria for Neurobehavioral Disorder Associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (ND-PAE). Kable et al. (2022) assessed the validity of this diagnosis in a sample with low exposure to alcohol.
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International Journal of Molecular Sciences - The Impacts of Periconceptional Alcohol on Neonatal Ovaries and Subsequent Adult Fertility in the Rat
Maternal exposures during pregnancy can impact the establishment of the ovarian reserve in offspring, the lifetime supply of germ cells that determine a woman’s reproductive lifespan.
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Preventive Medicine - Associations between maternal periconceptional alcohol consumption and risk of omphalocele among offspring, National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997–2011
We observed modest associations between maternal periconceptional alcohol consumption and omphalocele. Based on our bias analysis, studies of alcohol and birth defects not accounting for exposure misclassification may underestimate associations.
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BMC Primary Care - Scoping review on the role of the family doctor in the prevention and care of patients with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder
The interventions of GPs in the management of patients with FASD are comprehensive: prevention, identification, diagnosis, follow-up, education, and the role of coordinator for patients, their families, and pregnant women and their partners.
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Biomedicines - Novel Interventions on Comorbidities in Patients with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): An Integrative Review
Novel treatments like choline and natural antioxidants and nutritional supplements are the most investigated treatments in humans with promising results. More follow-up studies need to be performed, to confirm and generalize reported efficacy to a wide sample size.
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IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Chaos im Kopf Podcast - Dein FASD Podcast (Germany) - Zeit für mich: Auszeiten für Bezugspersonen von Menschen mit FASD (C66)
n dieser Episode geht es darum, warum regelmäßige Auszeiten für Bezugspersonen von Menschen mit FASD so wichtig sind und wie sie durch Selbstfürsorge ihre Lebensqualität verbessern können.
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Friday, February 23, 2024

Alcohol News - 8/2024

Notes From Poland (Poland) - Police interventions fall by half after Polish city bans alcohol sales at night
The decision by Kraków, Poland’s second-largest city, to ban alcohol sales in shops at night saw police interventions fall by almost half during the first six months it was in place.
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Euronews.com - Alcohol sales from Baltics to Russia surge despite Ukraine war
Latvia and Lithuania are accused of acting as middlemen between Western producers of booze and Russia.
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RFI (France) - Could the drop in France's alcohol sales be due to ‘Dry January’?
Sales of alcoholic beverages in France dropped in January, the month after the end-of-year holidays, when people are encouraged to stop drinking.
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The Japan Times (Japan) - Japan draws up guidelines on alcohol consumption
The health ministry on Monday rolled out its first guidelines on alcohol consumption, aiming to reduce associated health risks.
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News-Medical - Study finds music's alcohol references sway drinking habits
A new study in Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research discusses the prevalence and impact of alcohol references in music using studies acquired from four major databases.
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Boston University - Heavy Alcohol, Drug Use Linked to Increased Risk of Falls among People with HIV
Falls and related injuries were most pronounced with alcohol among frail people living with HIV, suggesting the need for targeted clinical screening and interventions among a population that is already at risk of experiencing falls.
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Iowa Now (USA) - Alcohol consumption leads to greater cancer risk for Iowans
Iowans’ alcohol consumption—in volume and frequency—is among the highest in the nation, and puts residents at greater risk for cancer, according to the 2024 Cancer in Iowa report issued by the Iowa Cancer Registry.
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NZ Herald (New Zealand) - Dunedin university students targeted by ‘aggressive’ alcohol marketing, raising concerns with police
Liquor companies have been giving university students free booze in exchange for shout-outs on social media, raising concerns with police and uni bosses.
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Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia) - The case for an alcohol policy at Federal Parliament
A conversation about the culture around alcohol at Federal Parliament has cracked open again. It comes after Nationals deputy leader Perin Davey appeared to slur her words during a Senate hearing.
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NordAN - New report: alcohol and mental health are linked
Alcohol is a risk factor for mental health issues. At the same time, reduced alcohol consumption can improve the health of individuals with mental health issues. This is shown in a new compilation on the many consequences of alcohol on the brain conducted by an international research group. The report is backed by organizations such as the Brain Foundation (Hjärnfonden) and IOGT-NTO.
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IAS Blog (Ireland) - Ireland’s reputation on alcohol policy under threat
Ireland has gained a degree of global attention for its strides in recent years to address long-standing alcohol issues. In common with many European countries, we have high levels of alcohol consumption along with particularly risky patterns of drinking.
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NordAN (Finland) - EHYT calls for a comprehensive assessment of the impacts of alcohol policy changes on public health and economy
EHYT Finnish Association for Substance Abuse Prevention is disappointed with the way alcohol policy changes documented in the government program are being handled as individual measures without assessing their collective impacts on health, well-being, and the national economy.
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Friday, February 16, 2024

Alcohol News - 7/2024


Bangkok Post (Thailand) - Bid to lift afternoon alcohol sales ban rejected
A government panel has rejected a proposal to scrap the long-standing ban on sales of alcoholic beverages between 2pm and 5pm, citing the risk to public health and safety.
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The Conversation - Why it’s a bad idea to mix alcohol with some medications
Anyone who has drunk alcohol will be familiar with how easily it can lower your social inhibitions and let you do things you wouldn’t normally do.
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Voice of America (Zambia) - As Alcohol Abuse Rises in Zambia, Authorities Pledge to Enforce Regulation
The World Health Organization says that in Zambia over 70% of men and over 30% of women are drinking too much, too often. Some nonprofit organizations are intervening to help those on the path to recovery from alcohol addiction.
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The Irish Times (Ireland) - Deaths due to alcohol-specific causes rise 45.9% in North over past decade
The number of people dying in Northern Ireland from exclusively alcohol-related conditions has increased by 46 per cent in the past decade, according to new figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra).
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Otago Daily Times (New Zealand) - Giving students free alcohol ‘baffling’
Police are slamming a liquor company as negligent over its "baffling" decision to give away alcohol to partying University of Otago students.
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Reading Chronicle (UK) - Berkshire drinkers warned of long term harm by health trust
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust has stated that the dangers of drinking too much alcohol need to be more widely understood to help prevent unnecessary deaths.
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PopNAD (Finland) - Use of alcohol and/or illicit drugs during pregnancy and long-term consequences for child development
Consuming alcohol and/or illicit drugs when pregnant can have serious consequences on a wide range of issues for the child. In her doctoral dissertation, Niina-Maria Nissinen studied how Finnish youth exposed to maternal substance abuse during pregnancy were performing at the age of 18 to 24 years in terms of secondary education, financial self-supporting and mental health compared with youth without registered evidence of maternal substance use during pregnancy.
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NordAN (Finland) - THL Survey: Over half of Finns support current alcohol policy – fewer now want wines in grocery stores
Over half of Finns support the current alcohol policy, according to a survey conducted by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) in January 2024. Fifty-seven percent of Finns find the current alcohol policy appropriate. Last year, 53 percent of respondents supported the current alcohol policy.
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Movendi - A Review of Alcohol Policy Highlights in 2023 and an Outlook for Alcohol Policy Trends in 2024
For the second episode in our third season we discuss alcohol issues past, present, and future: we review the alcohol policy highlights of 2023, reflect about Movendi International achievements, and give an outlook for alcohol policy trends in 2024.
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IAS Blog - Saving Lives and Money: A Call for a €1 Minimum Unit Price for Alcohol to Prevent Chronic Liver Disease
In Europe, liver diseases, including cancer, are escalating alarmingly primarily due to excessive alcohol consumption and obesity. This growing health crisis demands effective policy responses.
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NSPCC (UK) - More than 70,000 children in England have a parent struggling with alcohol misuse
The number of children in England with a parent who misuses alcohol remains consistently high, with more than 70,000 cases being recorded each year since 2019/20.
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Diabetes.co.uk – Obesity and alcohol increase bowel cancer deaths in young women
Individuals who regularly drink alcohol and are living with obesity are more at risk of dying from bowel cancer, a new study reveals.
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AlcoholAndCancer - Alcohol's impact on cancer in the OECD's latest report
Europe's battle against cancer is at a critical juncture, with the latest OECD report, "Beating Cancer Inequalities in the EU," providing a comprehensive examination of the continent's cancer landscape. While the report covers a broad spectrum of cancer risk factors, this article zeroes in on the specific issue of alcohol consumption and its link to cancer, integrating the broader context and findings from the report.
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NordAN (Iceland) - Court of Appeal in Iceland reverses judgment in beer dispuute
The Icelandic Court of Appeal has reversed a previous ruling in a beer dispute, exonerating the State Alcohol and Tobacco Company (ÁTVR) from a claim made by an alcohol importer.
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AlcoholCampaign (Sweden) - “PLAY A ROLE!” AWARENESS WEEK
Sweden is shining a spotlight on children growing up in families affected by excessive alcohol use through its awareness week, “Play a Role!”, coinciding with Valentine’s Day week, February 12-18, 2024. This initiative aligns with similar campaigns like the Children of Alcoholics Week observed in the USA and the UK, highlighting the struggles of children in such environments.
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Sunday, February 11, 2024

FASD News - 6/2024


Fatherly - Yes, Dad’s Drinking May Contribute To Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
If you were to guess based on TV and movies, baby-making typically includes some R&B slow jams and a few glasses of wine. Unfortunately, this could be bad for the baby, as new research has prompted one expert to recommend that aspiring dads lay off of the booze for 90 days before they attempt to conceive.
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FASD United - Learn With Liv: Internship at FASD United
As Liv interns at FASD United, she will be sharing the things she is learning and doing to inspire and explore FASD awareness through a public health lens. In her time with our organization, she will have opportunities to experience the roundedness of our programs, aid in important projects, and explore her understanding through reflection.
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CanFASD - THO 2.0: An updated framework for integrated community intervention
The Towards Healthy Outcomes (THO) framework for individuals with FASD offers an individualized, evidence-based resource that facilitates collaborative goal-setting and intervention planning across the lifespan (Joly et al., 2022). THO was developed by the Intervention Network Action Team of Canada FASD Research Network, led by Dr. Jacqueline Pei and colleagues, and introduced to the community in 2019.
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CBC (Canada) - Years-long wait for FASD diagnosis preventing vulnerable Manitoba youth from getting help they need, occupational therapist says
A 14-year-old girl fatally stabbed last month in downtown Winnipeg was just one of many youth on a long waiting list to be assessed for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
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FASD United - Celebrating Women in Medicine: Interview with Adiaha Spinks-Franklin
For those of you who are unaware- It’s National Women Physician’s Day, February 3rd! This day celebrates the accomplishments and contributions of women in medicine. Specifically, it honors the birthday of Elizabeth Blackwell, who, in 1849 became the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States.
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VIDEOS and MATERIALS
Adopt4LifeON - Until Next Time—Work | FASD & Me: For Teens video series
We’ve partnered with 6 remarkable teens with FASD, to listen and learn what they want us (and all of you!) to know about their experiences with school, work, friendships, family, their communities, and more.
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Adopt4LifeON - Until Next Time—School | FASD & Me: For Teens video series
If you’re a teen, school is a BIG part of your everyday. For teens with FASD, it can also be a place where you don’t always feel seen, understood, or accepted. With the right supports though, things can be a lot better. Hear what our team of teen mentors with FASD want you to know about school, and how to help. Until next time!
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Adopt4LifeON - Until Next Time—Introduction | FASD & Me: For Teens video series
Caring for someone with FASD doesn’t come with a manual—but we’ve got the next best thing!
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FASD United - FASD United Affiliate Meeting - January 18, 2024
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FASD United - FASD United Policy Forum - January 2024
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Patricia Kasper, Your FASD Coach - Understanding Suggestibility in FASD with Dr. Jerrod Brown
Join your host and FASD coach, Patti Kasper, as she welcomes the incredibly knowledgeable Dr. Jerrod Brown back to the microphone for a session packed with insights that promise to leave you with pages of notes.
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National FASD - Taking the message to the Health and Social Care Committee
The National Organisation for FASD's Chief Executive Sandra Butcher gave oral evidence to the Health and Social Care Committee on 6 February 2024 about the prevention of harm from alcohol in pregnancy and the prevention of further harm from undiagnosed and unsupported FASD.
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Patricia Kasper, Your FASD Coach - Embracing Neurodiversity & FASD: a Candid Conversation with Jodee Kulp
In this enlightening episode, we have the privilege of engaging with Jodee Kulp, an esteemed advocate in FASD circles with a wealth of knowledge and personal insight into FASD. Jodee brings to the conversation a profound understanding of the "normal" that comes with neurodiversity, sharing her family's journey through the lens of both a parent and an individual with FASD.
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Talk Like a Mother: Parenting Autism Podcast - Interview with Natalie Vecchione from FASD Hope
We had the pleasure of interviewing Natalie Vecchione of FASD Hope for FASD Awareness Month.
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The raw and the real of FASD - Bio Mom vs Adoptive Mom
We are so happy to finally have this project up and started. This is the first of many videos you have been waiting for. Take a moment and listen to the perspective of two different mothers who are not so different after all.
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Fasd Success Show - #141 Discover a New Mental Health Tool with Emma Jewell
Emma Jewell, MSW, RSW (she/her) is a registered social worker and Research Assistant with the Psychology, Law, and Neurodevelopment (PLAN) Policy and Research Group at the University of Guelph, as well as the Canada FASD Research Network.
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RESEARCH
Advances in Pediatric Research - Washington and Alaska Statewide Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Clinical Networks: Comparison of Three Decades of 4-Digit Code Diagnostic Outcomes and Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Histories
Both States demonstrated the feasibility and value of establishing Statewide interdisciplinary FASD diagnostic clinical networks using the FASD 4-Digit-Code. Legislative support, centralized data collection, and use of a single, evidence-based FASD diagnostic system have been key to the long-term, ongoing success of these two diagnostic networks.
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Neuropharmacology - Optogenetic stimulation of corticostriatal circuits improves behavioral flexibility in mice with prenatal alcohol exposure
Taken together these results suggest that stimulation of OFC-dS projections can improve early reversal learning in PAE and control mice, and these improvements can persist even into later stages of the task days later.
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Neuropediatrics - Reduced Inter-hemispheric coherence and cognition in children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) - a quantitative EEG study
Our findings could imply hypo-connectivity between the hemispheres with impact on cognition. We suggest that EEG coherence analysis could be a sensitive parameter in the detection of electrophysiological abnormalities in FASD with possible clinical relevance.
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Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research - Australian psychologists' knowledge, confidence, and practices in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder diagnostic assessment
Recognition of FASD is growing in Australia, however, further work is required to improve clinicians' understanding of and confidence in completing FASD assessments.
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Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research - Machine learning approaches to the identification of children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure: A narrative review
We conclude by considering the scalability of these approaches and how these machine learning models, largely developed from clinical samples or highly exposed birth cohorts, may perform in the general population.
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CBMH - Neuropsychological profiles of adolescents sentenced to detention in Western Australia with and without prenatal alcohol exposure
While no statistically significant differences were found between the groups, the results provided a unique insight into the neurocognitive profile of Australian youth in detention. Routine screening assessments were recommended for young people sentenced to detention.
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American Journal of Preventive Medicine - Relationships Between Alcohol Policies and Infant Morbidities and Injuries
Findings suggest that limiting alcohol availability for the general population may help reduce adverse infant outcomes related to pregnant people's alcohol use.
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Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research - Sex-specific alterations in cognitive control following moderate prenatal alcohol exposure and transient systemic hypoxia ischemia in the rat
Transient systemic hypoxia ischemia impaired performance on the 5C-CPT in females, leading to a bias toward stimulus responsivity regardless of stimulus type.
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Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews - Developmental alcohol exposure is exhausting: Sleep and the enduring consequences of alcohol exposure during development
Prenatal alcohol exposure is the leading nongenetic cause of human intellectual impairment. The long-term impacts of prenatal alcohol exposure on health and well-being are diverse, including neuropathology leading to behavioral, cognitive, and emotional impairments.
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Scientific Reports - Prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with changes in placental gene co-expression networks
The reported findings provide insights into the molecular pathways affected by prenatal alcohol exposure and highlight the potential of placental biomarkers for detecting and understanding the effects of alcohol on fetal development.
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Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology - Structural Changes in Human Brain Tissue in Prenatal Alcoholization at Different Periods of Intrauterine Development
Alcohol led to changes in the sizes and numbers of neuroblasts, glioblasts, and MCB vessels and, as a consequence, to disproportionality in the development of all brain tissue. Changes progressed with increasing development time.
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Research in Developmental Disabilities - “It’s a learning curve throughout your entire life”: Experiences and impact of FASD in adolescence explored in online photovoice research
Participatory online research allowed insight into the impact of FASD as a disability and underlines a consistent need for support in adolescence and the transition into adulthood.
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IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Kehitysvammaliitto (Finland) - ONKO FASD VUONNA 2024 VIELÄKIN TUNTEMATON?
Vuonna 1726 havaittiin alkoholin yhteys sikiövaurioihin. Vuonna 1968 havaittiin alkoholistiäitien lapsissa alkoholialtistuksen aiheuttamia piirteitä. Vuonna 1973 FAS-nimikettä käytettiin ensimmäistä kertaa ja se vakiintui kuvaamaan alkoholialtistuksen aiheuttamaa oireyhtymää. 2000-luvun alussa alkoholin aiheuttamien vaurioiden kirjoa alettiin kuvata termillä FASD.
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RTL (Germany) - Ihre Mutter trank in der Schwangerschaft! Wie Marie (19) mit den Folgen lebt
Die 19-jährige Marie hat es nicht leicht, leidet unter Lern- und Sprachstörungen. Der Grund: Ihre Mutter trank während der Schwangerschaft Alkohol. Heute kämpft die junge Frau nicht nur mit den eigenen Einschränkungen, sondern auch dafür, als Mensch mit all seinen Bedürfnissen anerkannt zu werden.
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