In recognition of this year’s Alcohol Awareness Month, let us take the opportunity to discuss the importance of shifting policies to be more supportive of FASD prevention. This will require the development of evidence-based policies that address, and proactively promote healthy pregnancies, as well as examine the relationship between alcohol policies and infant morbidities and injuries. Creating policies that limit alcohol availability may help reduce adverse infant outcomes and get us one step closer in recognizing fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) as an alcohol-related harm. In North Carolina, 1 in 20 children have FASD and each year over 8,628 infants are born alcohol exposed. Supporting articles listed below.

Supportive alcohol policy as a key element of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder prevention - Lindsay Wolfson, Nancy Poole, 2023 (sagepub.com)

Relationships Between Alcohol Policies and Infant Morbidities and Injuries - PubMed (nih.gov)

#ALOCOHOLAWARENESSMONTH #PROOFALLIANCENC  #ALCOHOLANDPREGNANCY  #PREVENTFASD  #FASDMATTERS  #FASDUNITED  #FASDSUPPORT  #NCFASDINFORMED  #FASDHOPE

 “Contrary to some claims, laws that criminalize or otherwise punish drug use during pregnancy are more likely to worsen rather than improve health outcomes, according to a paper by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.”“Contrary to some claims, laws that criminalize or otherwise punish drug use during pregnancy are more likely to worsen rather than improve health outcomes, according to a paper by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.”

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#PROOFALLIANCENC  #ALCOHOLANDPREGNANCY  #PREVENTFASD  #FASDMATTERS  #FASDUNITED  #FASDSUPPORT  #NCFASDINFORMED  #FASDHOPE

 “The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is pleased to offer another series of educational webinars on FASDs, due to popular demand. 

 Join every other Friday beginning April 5th (April 5 & 19, May 3, 17, & 31).

To learn more and register for the series, click HERE!

#PROOFALLIANCENC  #ALCOHOLANDPREGNANCY  #PREVENTFASD  #FASDMATTERS  #FASDUNITED  #FASDSUPPORT  #NCFASDINFORMED  #FASDHOPE

 “SAMHSA’s Office of Recovery and Office of Tribal Affairs and Policy have collaborated to create a website dedicated to sharing Tribal Recovery news, events, and resources.”

View Resources, HERE!

#PROOFALLIANCENC  #ALCOHOLANDPREGNANCY  #PREVENTFASD  #FASDMATTERS  #FASDUNITED  #FASDSUPPORT  #NCFASDINFORMED  #FASDHOPE

 “General practitioners should be open and non-judgmental in their interactions with women and couples, with a focus on early detection and short-term intervention. General practitioners should be better educated about FASD and have a clearer understanding of the FASD care pathway.”
- Frontiers in Medicine

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#PROOFALLIANCENC  #ALCOHOLANDPREGNANCY  #PREVENTFASD  #FASDMATTERS  #FASDUNITED  #FASDSUPPORT  #NCFASDINFORMED  #FASDHOPE

“Join the Proof Alliance Caregiver Conference on May 16 and 17, 2024.  This event is for adoptive, biological, kinship and foster parents of individuals with a known or suspected FASD. Professionals who support and care for individuals on the FASD spectrum are also welcome.”

Learn more!

#PROOFALLIANCENC  #ALCOHOLANDPREGNANCY  #PREVENTFASD  #FASDMATTERS  #FASDUNITED  #FASDSUPPORT  #NCFASDINFORMED  #FASDHOPE