Maternal Depression: A Needed Shift in Public Policy

The National Center for Children in Poverty at Columbia University Mailman School of Public has issued a new report that urges policy makers to include maternal depression prevention and intervention when creating child-focused policy.  The report offers many recommendations and strategies at the local, state and national level.  The director of NCCP, Dr. Jane Knitzer, states “that policies promoting treatment and support for one generation will promote healthy development and school readiness in the next generation.”

Teratology????

According to Wikipedia teratology (from the Greek words meaning monster or marvel and  speech) was first referenced in the 17th century in reference to prodigies and marvels, or of anything so extraordinary as to seem abnormal.  In the 19th century, teratology acquired a meaning relating to biological deformities, mostly in the field of botany.  Today, teratology  refers to the medical study of teratogenesis or congenital malformations.  Another term for this is dysmorphology, meaning “the study of abnormal form.

Interestingly, the use of teratology as a medical term was popularized in the 1960s by Dr. David W. Smith of the University of Washington Medical School, one of the researchers who became known in 1973 for naming Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.  With greater understanding of the origins of birth defects, the field of teratology now overlaps with other fields of basic science, including developmental biology, embryology, and genetics.

The National Organization of Teratology Information Services maintains national and international research studies on its website which could be useful references when advocating for FASD and other causes of developmental disabilities.

FASD Myths Perpetuated by Media Coverage

NOFAS is informing the public about FASD myths which are perpetuated by media coverage. Please visit here to see the complete report.

Alcohol and Drugs Abound in Pop? Who Knew

The New York Times, February 6, 2008

Lyrics about drugs, alcohol and tobacco pervade popular music in the United States, according to a study published in the journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Reuters reported. The report of a team led by Dr. Brian Primack of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and released on Monday calculated that Americans from ages 15 to 18 listening to 2.4 hours of music a day hear 84 references to substances daily and more than 30,000 annually. About two-thirds of the references put drugs, alcohol and tobacco in a positive light by associating them with sex, partying and humor, the study said.

Some genres, like rap and country in comparison with pop, have more references than others. The team used Billboard charts to identify the most popular songs of 2005, based on sales and airplay. They selected the 279 most popular from country, pop, R&B, rap and rock to examine for references to drugs, alcohol and tobacco. One third had explicit references; 42 percent had some kind of substance abuse reference. Jonathan Lamy, a spokesman for the Recording Industry Association of America, said, “While we have not had the opportunity to thoroughly assess the study, it’s important to note that music is generally a reflection of society.” He noted that albums carry parental advisory logos.

National Center of Excellence in FASD

Need basic information or educational tools on FASD to disseminate knowledge to public or professional populations? If so, you need not look further. This government sponsored, National Center of Excellence, website offers a full library of current research, resources and facts. This site is also available in Spanish.

National Institute on Drug Abuse

The National Institute On Drug Abuse easily provides the ability to gather facts regarding the effects of prenatal drug exposure (other than alcohol). There are detailed references on the impact of specific drugs on children exposed in utero. Health related issues for children include infectious diseases, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal problems, kidney and liver damage, hormonal imbalance and mortality. The site targets young adults, parents and teachers, researchers, and medical and health professionals. Information is also offered in Spanish.