FEATURES

Portage Friendship Centre looks to create awareness with FASD conference

The Portage Friendship Centre of Canada will host the “Tradition and
Western World Views on FASD and Strategies Conference” in November to
encourage FASD prevention and a better understanding of the disorder.

Article, The Daily Graphic, October 8, 2011

Addicted babies need task force

Florida Attorney General, Pam Bondi, recently called for a task force to
be formed to address the increasing number of cases of Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in the state.

Article, News-Press.com, October 6, 2011

Angels in Adoption award goes to Newell family

South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson recently awarded Nora and Randy Boesem
of Newell, South Dakota with the Angels in Adoption award.  The Boesem’s
have nine adopted children, all who have FASD.

Article, NewellCommunity.com, October 5, 2011

University of the Fraser Valley professor to speak on new approaches to
helping children with FASD

University of the Fraser Valley kinesiologist, Dr. Chris Bertram focuses
on the strengths of FASD children to improve their motor skills.

Article, Chilliwack Times, October 3, 2011

Available for Public Comment: Maternity Care Measure Set

Patient Safety and Quality Improvement of The American Congress of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is looking for public comment on
the Maternity Care measure set. The comment period is open until 5:00
p.m. CDT on Saturday, October 29, 2011.

Public Comment, ACOG, October 2011

Self-reported Alcohol and Drug Use in Pregnant Young Women: A Pilot
Study of Associated Factors and Identification

Recent NOFAS FASD Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Grace Chang reveals study
results from self-reported substance use in pregnant young women.

Study, Journal of Addiction Medicine, September 2011

NOFAS

NOFAS Vice President and International Spokesperson, Kathy Mitchell
responds to popular NBC show, Parenthood.  Last week’s episode featured
a scene in which a pregnant woman drinks champagne at her baby shower.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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.

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.

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