The U.S.Consumer Product Safety Commission’s effort to help families stay safe while on vacation this summer has developed a new poster with child safety advice that is often put into place at home, but also needs to be considered when staying at a hotel, motel, campsite, or relative’s house.  CPSC has numerous reports of children drowning in resort or motel swimming pools, children falling out of hotel windows or off balconies, and kids seriously injured from skateboard or ATV incidents that occurred while on vacation. Please take a moment and download our new Safe Travels poster and share it with your family, friends and community: www.cpsc.gov/nsn/safetravels.pdf Thank you and have a safe summer.  

SAMHSA FASD Center for Excellence
Update

•  
  1. New Books Related to FASD
  2. Recent Study on Building FASD Clinical Capacity in Western and Northwest Canada Published in the Canadian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
  3. Updated SAMHSA Directory of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Programs Now Available
  4. America’s Children in Brief: Key National Indicators of Well-Being 2008 Report Now Available Online
  5. AHRQ Small Grant Program
  6. Ladder to Leadership Project
  7. The 21st Annual NPN Prevention Research Conference 
  8. ARC of Illinois Conference
  1. New Books Related to FASD—The Long Way to Simple by Stephen Neafcy and Jodee Kulp (2008 ) is the story of  Stephen Neafcy, a member of the FASLINK Listserv, who  was diagnosed at age 43 with fetal alcohol effects (FAE). The book also provides practical advice for others with FAE. Where the Pavement Ends by Marie Wadden (2008) focuses on addiction and recovery. The author discusses FASD and the effort that First Nations are making to overcome the stigma of FASD and address problems related to those exposed to alcohol in utero. Both books are available through bookstores and online booksellers.

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2.      Recent Study on Building FASD Clinical Capacity in Western and Northwest Canada Published in the Canadian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology—An article written by Dr. Sterling Clarren and Jan Lutke, was recently published in the Canadian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. The article highlights a study conducted to determine the FASD clinical activity in Canada Northwest.  An abstract for the article and information for obtaining the full text can be accessed at http://www.cjcp.ca/hm/?id=343.

3.      Updated Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Directory of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Programs Now Available—An updated guide to finding local substance abuse treatment programs is now available from SAMHSA.  The National Directory of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Programs 2008 provides information on thousands of alcohol and drug treatment programs located in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories.  For more information, visit SAMHSA’s Web site at http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0806125344.aspx.

4.      America’s Children in Brief: Key National Indicators of Well-Being 2008 Report Now Available Online-The 2008 report serves as a report card     on the status of the nation’s children and youth, presenting statistics compiled by a number of federal agencies as one convenient reference and includes       information on adolescent alcohol use.  The report is compiled by the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, a working group of      Federal agencies that collect, analyze, and report data on issues related to children and families, with partners in private research organizations. The full   report can be accessed and downloaded at http://childstats.gov/pubs/index.asp.

5.      AHRQ Small Grant Program—The Federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) will award grants to nonprofit organizations and others who want to run conferences that disseminate research-based information on healthcare best practices. The Small Grant Program for Conference Support offers grants of up to $50,000 to nonprofits; tribal, State, and other governments; schools; and public-housing agencies. The application deadline is October 20, 2009. The full grant announcement can be accessed at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-074.html.

6.      Ladder to Leadership Project—Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the Center for Creative Leadership have launched the Ladder to   Leadership: Developing the Next Generation of Community Health Leaders, a project designed to improve the leadership capacity of community-based        nonprofits serving vulnerable populations, including people with addictions. The project will provide a 16-month leadership-development curriculum to   selected professionals in the following priority communities: New York; Cleveland, Ohio; Birmingham, Alabama; Albuquerque, New Mexico; eastern  North Carolina; Portland, Oregon; Mid South (western Tennessee, eastern Arkansas, northern Mississippi); New Jersey, and Starr County, Texas. Up to     30 early- to mid-career professionals will be chosen from each community based on their record of accomplishment, future leadership potential, and proven       commitment to serving vulnerable populations and improving health outcomes. Application deadlines vary.  For more information, visit the RWJF’s Web site        at http://www.rwjf.org/applications/solicited/cfp.jsp?ID=20281%20.

7.      The 21st Annual National Prevention Network (NPN) Prevention Research Conference—The NPN Prevention Research Conference will be held    August 24-27, 2008, in Indianapolis, Indiana. The conference theme is “Prevention Research: Driving Successful Outcomes.”   The conference will         highlight and introduce evidence-based programs, innovations, practices, and principles moving toward high quality prevention program implementation. For       additional conference information, visit the Southwest Prevention Center’s Web site at http://swpc.ou.edu/npn.

8.      Arc of Illinois Conference—The Arc of Illinois has been awarded a conference grant from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and will sponsor Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Conference: Prevention, Information & Education. The conference will be held in Alsip, Illinois, August 26–27, 2008.  For additional conference information, visit the Arc of Illinois’ Web site at http://www.thearcofil.org/document.asp?did=1303.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is pleased to announce the availability of two new publications that address intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence (SV)—two serious public health problems throughout the United States. According to the National Violence Against Women Survey, 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. The same survey found that women experience about 4.8 million intimate partner-related physical assaults and rapes each year. Men are the victims of about 2.9 million intimate partner-related physical assaults. IPV and SV have lasting harmful effects on the victims, their friends, families, and the surrounding community.

IPV and SV disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities. Recognizing the need for programs that address prevention in minority populations, the CDC funded 10 demonstration projects in Fiscal Year 2000 to develop, implement, and evaluate culturally competent IPV/SV prevention strategies targeted for specific racial/ethnic minority groups. Preventing Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence in Racial/Ethnic Minority Communities: CDC’s Demonstration Projects summarizes the work of the funded projects. The purpose of the document is to describe approaches and highlight challenges and lessons learned in the development, implementation, and evaluation of IPV/SV prevention programs for racial/ethnic minority populations.

The Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Programs Evaluation Guide presents an overview of the importance of evaluation and provides evaluation approaches and strategies that can be applied to SV and IPV programs. Chapters provide practical guidelines for planning and conducting evaluations; information on linking program goals, objectives, activities, outcomes, and evaluation strategies; sources and techniques for data gathering; and tips on analyzing and interpreting the data collected and sharing the results. The Guide discusses formative, process, outcome, and economic evaluation.

Hard copies of these publications can be ordered on-line at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/pubs/ncipc.aspx.  Additional information on IPV and SV can be found on-line at www.cdc.gov/ncipc. We hope that you’ll join CDC in our efforts to promote healthy relationships and prevent IPV and SV.

The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) monitors six categories of priority health-risk behaviors among youth and young adults, including behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence; tobacco use; alcohol and other drug use; sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection; unhealthy dietary behaviors; and physical inactivity. In addition, YRBSS monitors the prevalence of obesity and asthma. YRBSS includes a national school-based survey conducted by CDC and state and local school-based surveys conducted by state and local education and health agencies.

In the United States, 72% of all deaths among persons aged 10–24 years result from four causes: motor-vehicle crashes, other unintentional injuries, homicide, and suicide. Results from the 2007 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) indicated that many high school students engaged in behaviors that increased their likelihood of death from these four causes. Among high school students nationwide during 2007, 11.1% had never or rarely worn a seat belt when riding in a car driven by someone else. During the 30 days before the survey, 29.1% of high school students had ridden in a car or other vehicle driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol, 18.0% had carried a weapon, and 5.5% had not gone to school because they felt they would be unsafe at school or on their way to or from school. During the 12 months before the survey, 6.9% of high school students had attempted suicide. In addition, 75.0% of high school students had ever drunk alcohol, and 4.4% had ever used methamphetamines. Substantial morbidity and social problems among youth also result from unintended pregnancies and STDs, including HIV infection. Results from the 2007 survey indicated that 47.8% of students had ever had sexual intercourse, 35.0% of high school students were currently sexually active, and 38.5% of currently sexually active high school students had not used a condom during last sexual intercourse. Among U.S. adults aged >25 years, 59% of all deaths result from two causes: cardiovascular disease and cancer. Results from the 2007 national YRBS indicated that risk behaviors associated with these two causes of death were present during adolescence. Among high school students nationwide during 2007, 20.0% had smoked cigarettes during the 30 days before the survey, 35.4% had watched television 3 or more hours per day on an average school day, and 13.0% were obese. During the 7 days before the survey, 78.6% of high school students had not eaten fruits and vegetables five or more times per day, 33.8% had drunk soda or pop at least one time per day, and 65.3% had not met recommended levels of physical activity.

The full report of the results of the 2007 YRBSS is available at  http://www.cdc.gov/yrbs

The New York Times reported that recent research suggests that alcoholic drinks mixed with diet soda are absorbed at a faster rate than those mixed with sugared drinks.  As a result, artificial sweeteners can speed inebriation as compared with sugar-sweetened drinks.

The umbrella term FASD includes a diverse set of mental and behavioral phenotypes that are often misdiagnosed and ill-treated, causing families to endure undue social and financial costs. Furthermore, undiagnosed/misdiagnosed individuals often have a high recidivism rate in
institutions such as jails, mental health and substance dependence programs, and homeless shelters. However, correct and early diagnosis has proven effective in preventing secondary disabilities and negative outcomes.FASD is currently undefined in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fourth edition (DSM-IV), the handbook used by psychiatrists and other mental health professionals in the U.S. as well as internationally to diagnose and classify mental disorders. This often results in misdiagnosis by medical and mental health professionals, lack of understanding and support in schools, social and judicial systems, and inappropriate treatment strategies/interventions. Furthermore, there is no effective way to link the medical aspects of FASD with the mental health issues that arise in approximately 90% of individuals with FASD, thus preventing families from receiving appropriate services. Also, the absence of FASD in the DSM prevents an integrated/multidisciplinary approach with pediatric and medical interventions, psychologists, psychiatrist, PT/OT, speech therapists. Therefore, although there are logistical, technical, and procedural difficulties surrounding the inclusion of FASD in the DSM-V (scheduled to be published in 2012), MOFAS believes its inclusion is vital not only in facilitating more accurate diagnosis and reporting, but to increase awareness and present the opportunity for further psychiatric research. Currently a task force of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) is overseeing the development of the fifth edition of the DSM. Two committees within the task force-the Substance-Related Disorders and Developmental Disorders Work Groups-are considering the inclusion of FASD in a way that strictly reflects the state of the research.Dr. Moss, Associate Director for Clinical and Translational Research for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, is authoring a scientific literature review that asserts FASD/ARND be included in the DSM-V.

This paper will contribute to the Developmental Disorders Committee meeting in September, 2008, as they discuss FASD’s inclusion in the DSM.As requested by Dr. Moss, MOFAS is seeking first-person narratives from individuals living with FASD and/or parents, family members, caregivers, and practitioners who work with FASD in order to personalize the argument. Stories that specifically addresses experiences with inaccurate diagnosis, inaccurate treatment (medicinal, psychiatric, social), reimbursement our resource limitations, and hardships with the educational, judicial, or social system will be the most useful in highlighting the importance of including FASD in the DSM-V.For more information, contact MOFAS at:MOFAS
1885 University Ave.
Suite 395
Saint Paul, MN 55104
Fax: 651-917-2405
Email: mofas@mofas.org

An article published in USA Today reports that drug and alcohol users can have healthy pregnancies if they are treated early in the pregnancy.  Early screening for alcohol, drug and tobacco use and abuse was the approach to care at Kaiser Permanente Northern California, where the study was conducted.

The LDDI Scientific Consensus Statement

Steven G. Gilbert, PhD, DABT

Teleconference Description

Scientific research and experience has clearly established that environmental contaminates can cause developmental disorders. The LDDI Scientific consensus statement outlines the current scientific understanding of the links between environmental factors and learning and developmental disabilities. It also identifies important research areas that hold promise of further advancing our understanding of these links. This statement is intended as a guide to scientists, medical professionals, policymakers, public health advocates, and the general public in advancing their efforts to address the important individual and social issues raised by learning and developmental disabilities.The Scientific Consensus Statement on Environmental Agents Associated with Neurodevelopmental Disorders, developed by the Collaborative on Health and the Environment’s Learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative (also posted at http://www.iceh.org/LDDI.html). The statement, which has a glossary and over 200 references, was drafted and reviewed by a committee of scientists and health professionals documenting underscoring the following:Given established scientific knowledge, protecting children from neurotoxic exposures from the earliest stages of fetal development is clearly an essential public health measure. By reducing environmental factors that may lead to learning and developmental disorders, we will create a healthier environment in which all children can reach and maintain their full potential.This presentation will review the Consensus Statement and existing evidence that environmental contaminates can cause learning and developmental disorders.

Speaker BiographySteven G. Gilbert, Ph.D., D.A.B.T., Director and Founder of the Institute of Neurotoxicology and Neurological Disorders (INND), received a Ph.D. in Toxicology in 1986 from the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, and is a Diplomat of American Board of Toxicology. He is an Affiliate Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington and Affiliate Professor, Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, UW Bothell. He is a former owner and President of Biosupport, LTD., which he sold to SNBL USA Ltd. These firms were involved in pre-clinical contract research, toxicology, and specialized model development. Dr. Gilbert’s research has focused on neurobehavioral effects of low-level exposure to lead and mercury on the developing nervous system. His book, A Small Dose of Toxicology- The Health Effects of Common Chemicals was published in 2004 (www.asmalldoseof.org). Most recently he has started a wiki based web site Toxipedia (www.toxipedia.org) with the mission of connecting science and people and Healthy World Theater (www.healthyworldtheater.org). (sgilbert@innd.org).

WHEN: Tuesday July 8^{th, 2008TIME: 2-3pm Eastern Time (Please dial in a few minutes before 2:00 p.m. so we can start on time!)}

^{Moderator: Laura Abulafia, MHS}

^{Toll Free: 1.800.868.1837}

^{Direct Dial: 1.404.920.6440 Pass Code: 235 362#COST: FREE!MATERIAL: Go to the Initiative website at www.ehinitiative.org and click on the button that says next teleconference. There you will find the announcement with logistical information and the presentation under “materials” to down load or follow along on your computer. For more information on the teleconference series or AAIDD’s Environmental Health Initiative, contact: Laura Abulafia at Laura@aaidd.org or visit the website at www.ehinitiative.org. Thank you.}

This is a press release from CDC

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — The federal Centers for Disease Control has recommended that some artificial turf athletic fields be tested for lead.

The CDC recommended testing of any field containing worn or faded turf blades that are made of nylon or nylon-blend fibers. Nylon fields with visible dust should also be tested, the agency said in a health advisory posted online late Wednesday.

The guidelines come two months after New Jersey health officials found unexpectedly high lead levels in turf fibers of three athletic fields. Subsequent tests showed the lead found in the turf can be absorbed by humans.

New Jersey epidemiologist Dr. Eddy Bresnitz said the lead levels were not high enough to cause poisoning in people who play on the fields. But he said the levels could cause more damage in children already exposed to lead.

Additional tests are being done to better understand the absorption of lead from turf products.

The tests done by New Jersey health officials found potentially hazardous lead levels only on worn nylon and nylon-blend athletic fields. The CDC did not recommend testing artificial turf fields made from polyethylene or nylon fields that are not visibly worn.

“As determined by New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, limited sampling of additional athletic fields in New Jersey and commercial products indicates that artificial turf made of nylon or nylon/polyethylene blend fibers contains levels of lead that pose a potential public health concern,” the CDC advisory states. “Tests of artificial turf fields made with only polyethylene fibers showed that these fields contained very low levels of lead.”

New Jersey found itself at the forefront of the issue after state health authorities stumbled onto the lead while investigating whether runoff from a scrap-metal operation in Newark had contaminated an adjacent playing field.

Pigment containing lead chromate is used in some surfaces to make the grass green and hold its color in sunlight. But it is not clear how widely the compound is used. The New Jersey Health Department found lead in three nylon fields it tested, but in none of the 10 polyethylene surfaces it examined.

The three fields in New Jersey were voluntarily ripped up and replaced.

The CDC said no cases of elevated blood lead levels in children have been linked to artificial turf.

The artificial turf industry has said its products are safe because the lead used to color the turf is encapsulated within the blades.

State authorities requested more comprehensive testing on a federal level, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission agreed.

The agency is looking into the possible health hazards of lead in artificial turf installed at schools, parks and stadiums across the country.

Those results are pending.

The CDC acknowledges that it does not fully understand the potential risks associated with exposure to dust from worn artificial turf.

To minimize the risk of exposure, it suggests that field managers water down fields and use other dust-suppression measures.

For people who play on turf fields, the CDC recommends thoroughly washing hands and showering immediately afterward, turning clothes inside out and washing them separately from other laundry, that athletic shoes be left outside, and that drinking containers be covered and kept in a bag or cooler when not being used.

Janet E. Huggins, Ph.D., Therese Grant, Ph.D., Kieran O’Malley, M.B., D.A.B.P.N. & Ann P. Streissguth, Ph.D. from the Fetal Alcohol and Drug Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington have published an article on the risks of suicide among persons with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) in the APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2008 (VOLUME 11 - NUMBER 2) edition of Mental Health Aspects of Developmental Disabilities. 

People diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have neuropsychological deficits that may contribute to increased risk for suicide. This paper describes clinical profiles of eleven individuals with FASD and differentiates six who attempted suicide from five who did not, with regard to risk and protective factors. Attempters were more likely to have mental health disorders, substance abuse disorders, a history of trauma or abuse, financial stress, and unstable social support compared to non-attempters. We discuss ways in which clinicians can reduce risk among individuals with FASD by modifying standard suicide assessment and intervention protocols to accommodate the person’s deficits.