NOFAS Weekly Roundup

The NOFAS Weekly Roundup features news articles, research, event announcements, new materials and other highlights from around the world of FASD. The Roundup also includes the latest news from NOFAS and a link to the Calendar of Events page on the NOFAS website.

 FEATURES

Pregnant Women Urged to Avoid Alcohol Temptation during the Holidays

The Organization of Teratology Information Specialists encourages pregnant women to avoid alcohol temptation over the holidays.

Press Release, Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) October 25, 2010

Study: Alcohol ‘most harmful drug,’ followed by crack and heroin

A recent study by British medical journal, The Lancet, reveals that alcohol is the most harmful substance.

Article, CNN, November 1, 2010

FASD Lane

FASD Lane is a useful website with resources, online support and more for adults with FAS, FAE, or FASD.

Website, October 2010

Center for Neurobehavioral Development Fall 2010 Colloquium Series: Fetal Alcohol and Neurobehavioral Development

[From Marissa Lang, MOFAS]: The Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (MOFAS)  in collaboration with the University of Minnesota’s Center for Neurobehavioral Development is offering a 4 part colloquium series on FASD. The second series in the 4 part colloquium series is being held on Thursday, November 11th at 4 p.m. This series will be held at 717 Delaware St, Room 105, Minneapolis, MN. The topic for this session will include Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: An International Perspective, which will be presented by H. Eugene Hoyme, MD, University of South Dakota & Sanford Children’s Hospital. 

Event Announcement, MOFAS, October 2010

 MATERIALS AND RESOURCES

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Guidelines for Referral and Diagnosis

This essential CDC handbook features guidelines to assist physicians and other allied health professionals in identifying, referring, and providing a diagnosis for individuals with fetal alcohol syndrome.

 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

 The content of the NOFAS Weekly Roundup does not necessarily reflect the official positions or views of NOFAS. 

The NOFAS Weekly Roundup features news articles, research, event announcements, new materials and other highlights from around the world of FASD. The Roundup also includes the latest news from NOFAS and a link to the Calendar of Events page on the NOFAS website.

FEATURES

How much alcohol is safe?

Dr. Ira Chasnoff of the Children’s Research Triangle analyzes the recent study on light drinking.

Article, Dr. Ira Chasnoff, October 18, 2010

Drinking While Pregnant: Do women really need to abstain completely?

Examination of the recent study on light drinking during pregnancy.

Article, Slate, October 12, 2010

No safe drinking level in pregnancy, specialist asserts

Dr. Timothy Naimi recommends that pregnant women not change their thinking based on the recent light drinking study from the United Kingdom.

Article, The Boston Globe, October 7, 2010

Effects linger for children of women who drink during pregnancy

St. Louis University studies the long-term affects of alcohol-use during pregnancy and offers developing interventions for young people with an FASD.

Article, St. Louis Today, October 14, 2010

President Obama Signs in to law S.2781, “Rosa’s Law”

President Barack Obama recently signed in to law S. 2781,  “Rosa’s Law,” which changes references from “mental retardation” to “intellectual disability”.

Statement, The White House, October 5, 2010

CDC Vital Signs – Binge Drinking

The CDC presents the latest findings and data on the dangers of binge drinking.

Article, CDC, October 2010

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

A small study has found that babies exposed to methamphetamine and alcohol before birth have smaller caudate nucleus regions in the brain than non-exposed children or children exposed to alcohol only in the womb, HealthDay News reported March 17.

Researchers compared brain scans of 13 children exposed to alcohol before birth, 21 children exposed to meth and alcohol, and 27 children who were not exposed to either drug.

The caudite nucleus assists in learning, memory, motor control and motivation.

“We know that alcohol exposure is toxic to the developing fetus and can result in lifelong brain, cognitive and behavioral problems,” said researcher Elizabeth Sowell of the University of California at Los Angeles. “In this study, we show that the effects of prenatal meth exposure, or the combination of meth and alcohol exposure, may actually be worse. Our findings stress the importance of drug abuse treatment for pregnant women.”

The findings were published March 17, 2010 in the Journal of Neuroscience.

A federally funded treatment and prevention program is being credited with a 32-percent decline in fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) cases among Native Americans in Alaska,  Anchorage Daily News reported Feb. 19.

The $29-million program, which also included a multimedia education campaign, “did turn the corner,” said Diane Casto of the state Division of Behavioral Health. “What we know about prevention … you need to get the message out strongly, consistently, over and over again. It gave a good kick-start.”

The rate of children born with FAS among native populations declined from about 20 per 10,000 births in 1996 to 13.5 in 2002, according to state officials. Also, fewer children were born with alcohol spectrum disorders.

By contrast, the FAS rate among non-Native residents in Alaska did not drop.

You can read more studies about alcohol consumption at Join Together.

Pocket Shots are marketed as booze in a bag that “goes anywhere.”  They are sold at liquor stores around the Tampa Bay area and on the Internet. The company says they’re for people on the go who are over 21, and since this is a single-serve item, it’s easier to keep track of how much you’ve consumed.

College students have been ordering the pocket shots and getting them delivered at their schools with no problem despite many being underage.  Read more about this problem at http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/investigates/308-pocket-shots-concern-colleges

There is a new publication that discusses the issues surrounding  alcohol taxation. It is titled “The Guide to Community Preventive Services.” Take a few minutes and review when you have a chance.

This study states that teen drinking can cause brain damage. Read this article about teen binge drinking and share your thoughts.