From rosse at ncf.ca Sun Apr 5 18:09:13 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Sun Apr 5 17:12:20 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] FASD Learning Series April 7- videoconference across Canada Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090405170905.03819538@ncf.ca> http://www.fasd-cmc.alberta.ca/home/videoconferencingSeries.cfm Government of Alberta Alberta Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Cross Ministry Committee FASD Learning Series 2008-09 This year's FASD Learning Series offers free education opportunities tailored to meet the unique needs of individuals and family members/caregivers affected by FASD, support service providers, healthcare providers, educators, legal and justice services, and professionals in the research and evaluation field. Learning sessions are available via videoconferencing across Canada, allowing individuals the opportunity to receive information and education in their home community. Agencies outside of Alberta who are interested in receiving these sessions, please contact Erin Day at erin.day@gov.ab.ca. Videoconference Sessions Available for Registration (Click here to view past sessions) *To add your videoconference site to a session, please have your IT department or telehealth site contact email erin.day@gov.ab.ca ---------- March ---------- Winning the Battle with FASD: A family's success story Wednesday, March 25, 2009 4:30 - 6:00pm MDT Presented by: Natalie Soetaert and family Poster Register Handouts ---------- April ---------- Developments in Canadian FASD Assessment Protocols Tuesday, April 7, 2009 9:00 - 11:00am MDT Presented by: Dr. Sterling Clarren Poster Register Handouts ---------- Forensic Assessments of Youth Affected by FASD Thursday, April 16, 2009 2:00 - 4:00pm MDT Presented by: Ann Marie Dewhurst Poster Register Handouts ---------- FASD and Practice: Issues for Defence Thursday April 23, 2009 2:00 - 4:00pm MDT Presented by: Pat Yuzwenko Poster Register Handouts ---------- Treating Addictions in Persons Affected by FASD: What works and what doesn't Wednesday, April 29, 2009 9:00 - 11:00am MDT Presented by: Liz Lawryk Poster Register Handouts ---------- May ---------- The Incidence of Co-Occuring FASD and Mental Health Disorders and Implications for Practice Tuesday, May 5, 2009 9:00 - 11:00am MDT Presented by: Dr. Jacqueline Pei Poster Register Handouts ---------- Cross Generational Issues and Implications for Treatment Wednesday, May 13, 2009 9:00 - 11:00am MDT Presented by: Dr. Keiran O'Malley Poster Register Handouts ---------- The Mentor Experience: An Alberta sampler Thursday, May 21, 2009 9:00 - 11:00am MDT Presenter TBA Poster Register Handouts ---------- Understanding the Needs of the Caregiver: Therapeutic intervention and treatment Thursday, May 28, 2009 6:30 - 8:30pm MDT Presented by: Brenda Knight Poster Register Handouts ---------- Treating FASD and Co-Occuring Mental Health Disorders Friday, May 29, 2009 9:00 - 11:00am MDT Presented by: Brenda Knight Poster Register Handouts ---------- June ---------- The Bio-Parent Experience: Findings from research and implications for service providers Wednesday, June 3, 2009 9:00 - 11:00am MDT Presented by: Dorothy Badry Poster Register Handouts ---------- FASD and Practice: Issues for Prosecutors Wednesday, June 10, 2009 2:00 - 4:00pm Presented by: Neil Wiberg Poster Register Handouts ---------- Money Management FASD Style Wednesday, June 24, 2009 6:30 - 8:30pm MST Presented by: Priscilla Asamoah Poster Register Handouts -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090405/cfadfbdd/attachment.html From rosse at ncf.ca Sun Apr 5 18:19:02 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Sun Apr 5 17:18:16 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Canadian FASD assessment protocols April 7 Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090405171854.03848478@ncf.ca> [Learning sessions are available via videoconferencing across Canada] Registration Deadline: April 5 http://www.fasd-cmc.alberta.ca/home/videoconferencingSeries.cfm http://www.fasd-cmc.alberta.ca/home/572.cfm2009 Government of Alberta Alberta Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Cross Ministry Committee FASD Learning Series 2008-09 April ---------- Developments in Canadian FASD Assessment Protocols Tuesday, April 7, 2009 9:00 - 11:00am MDT Presented by: Dr. Sterling Clarren Poster Register Handouts Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Learning Series Developments in Canadian FASD Assessment Protocols\ Videoconference Overview Medical screening is usually done when a condition is common/problematic, a screening test exists that is cost effective, and when a diagnostic capacity and treatment regime are appropriate and readily available. FASD is a condition that meets some but not all of these conditions. Consequently this lecture will consider the nature of FASD screening, the merits of screening when diagnosis may be difficult to obtain and the impact of a screen positive on a family as well as the direct implications of the diagnosis for the birth mother, who might be at risk for having more effected children, and may be a patient herself in many ways. The Presenter Sterling K. Clarren, MD, FAAP is the CEO and Scientific Director of the Canada Northwest FASD Research Network and a clinical professor of Pediatrics and the Univeristy of British Columbia and the University of Washington. Dr. Clarren has applied his training in dysmorphology, neuropathology, neuroembryology, and developmental pediatrics to the problems of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders since 1975 in clinical diagnosis, clinical evaluation and intervention, and clinical and basic research. Dr. Clarren wrote the first major summary article of the clinical pattern of malformation associated with alcohol teratogenesis in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1978. He was co-author of the 4-Digit Diagnostic Code for FAS and related conditions. This last work has recently been accepted, with minor modification, as the Canadian standard for FASD diagnosis. Dr. Clarren developed one of the first pediatric clinics focused on the difficult diagnosis of FAS and related conditions in 1978, and has refined the clinical approach over many years. April 7, 2009 9 ? 11am MDT For registration information, please visit: www.fasd-cmc.alberta.ca Registration Deadline: April 5 To add a videoconference location, please email: erin.day@gov.ab.ca Learning Objectives .. What is the meaning of screening for FAS and FASD? .. How does FASD ?screening? differ from ?diagnosis?? .. What are the implications of FASD screening for the child and the birth mother? The FASD Learning Series is part of the Alberta government?s commitment to programs and services for people affected by FASD and those who support them -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090405/40a72053/attachment.html From rosse at ncf.ca Sun Apr 5 18:49:07 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Sun Apr 5 17:52:10 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Substance abuse & child welfare Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090405174858.03817bd0@ncf.ca> [This is CECW Information Sheet #72E from University of Toronto Faculty of Social Work focuses on the parents and makes no mention of pregnancy or fetal alcohol. The author, Della Knoke, has a PhD in Social Work and is a public servant Headings are: Relationship between parental substance abuse and child welfare, Parental substance abuse and foster care, Barriers to recovery, Strategies to enhance delivery of substance abuse treatment to child welfare clients, Summary It seems to me too bad that FASD is not at least considered, even if only as a factor in how long FASD affected children remain in care or considering reunification of families with alcohol abuse, or in mentioning possible prevention of births of future children who might be fetal alcohol affected.ER] My Child Welfare Librarian Child Welfare Information Gateway April 1, 2009 Community Services Title: Strategies to Enhance Substance Abuse Treatment for Parents Involved With Child Welfare. Author(s): Knoke, Della. Published: 2009 Available from: Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare PDF: http://www.cecw-cepb.ca/files/file/en/SubAbuse72E.pdf Abstract: This information sheet describes child welfare concerns associated with parental substance abuse and examines some of the initiatives that have been implemented in the United ... -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090405/9efe673c/attachment.html From rosse at ncf.ca Wed Apr 8 21:10:32 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Wed Apr 8 20:12:21 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Ontario FASD & Education survey by April 13 Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090408201025.03cee138@ncf.ca> IMPORTANT Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:03:36 -0400 From: FASD Education Survey Subject: Final reminder: Invitation to participate in online FASD survey for parents, caregivers, service providers and teachers Hello, As the survey submission is confidential, we have no way of knowing who has responded to our survey invitation. We would like to sincerely thank those of you who have taken the time to share your experiences with us. For those who haven't yet had a chance to complete the online survey, we'd like to remind you that it will be accessible until Monday, April 13th. The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete. Also, you can assist us by circulating the recruitment notice to those in your network who may be interested in participating. As this is our final reminder, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your cooperation with this research project. Best regards, Shari Orders & Cheryll Duquette * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Parents, Caregivers, Service Providers, and Teachers of Children and Adolescents with FASD Speak Out about Educational Services and Supports in Ontario Schools You are invited to participate in an online survey of service providers for children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) about educational services and supports in Ontario. This research is supported by the Intervention and Support Working Group, FASD Stakeholders for Ontario. Specifically, we are looking for parents, caregivers, service providers, and teachers of children and adolescents who are currently enrolled in Ontario elementary or secondary schools or have left school within the last 6 months. In this on-line survey, you will be asked about the educational services and supports for these individuals, how they were obtained, and recommendations for teachers and administrators. This survey should take about 15 to 20 minutes to complete and your responses are confidential as only the researchers will have access to the data. The results of this study on educational services and supports for students with FASD in Ontario schools will be used to prepare recommendations for action to the FASD stakeholders. The report will be available on the website of the FASD Stakeholders of Ontario (www.fasdontario.ca). This survey will be accessible until Monday April 13, 2009. If you are a parent or caregiver and would like to participate, please go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=RGrUkO4cgvm4BLKx2IF4dA_3d_3d If you are a service provider or teacher and would like to participate, please go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=atUeMDVCKsOS2E4OyGE8dg_3d_3d Please forward this message on to those in your networks who may be interested in participating in this survey. We would like to hear from as many people as possible. If you would like more information about this study, feel free to contact Cheryll Duquette and Shari Orders at FASDeducationsurvey@gmail.com. Thank you.-- Shari Orders, M.A., B.Ed. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090408/fcca6a6e/attachment.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 9 14:56:25 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 9 14:00:21 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Ontario respite survey by April 13 Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090409135518.0448ac88@ncf.ca> IMPORTANT Hi My name is Laurie Whyte and I am a consulant investigating respite with the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Stakeholders of Ontario (www.fasdontario.ca) . The Stakeholders are working on developing a strategy to educate the government about the respite needs of families affected by FASD in the province of Ontario. Please take a few moments to complete an online survey about respite services for families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). We need your information, stories, comments and suggestions to help us lobby the provincial government to recognize the FASD community's need for respite support. Whether or not you receive respite now we NEED your input. This survey is only for Ontario residents. Your responses are confidential as only the researchers will have access to the data. This research is supported by the Intervention and Support Working Group, FASD Stakeholders for Ontario. The results of this study on respite services for families affected by FASD will provide the basis for a respite strategy for the FASD stakeholders. This strategy will be outlined in a report that will be available on the website of the FASD Stakeholders of Ontario (www.fasdontario.ca). The survey will be accessible until Monday April 13, 2009. If you are a parent or caregiver and would like to participate, please click on the link below http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=mpkXcnFIvJsTQIE6QuuV2w_3d_3d Please forward this message on to anyone who may be interested in participating in this survey. We would like to hear from as many people as possible. If you would like anymore information about this study please contact Laurie Whyte at whytelaurie@rogers.com. Thank you, Laurie Whyte Respite Consultant FASD Stakeholders Ontario [There is also an email attachment which can be obtained by emailing Laurie and mailed back to her.] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090409/b556724c/attachment.html From rosse at ncf.ca Mon Apr 13 11:01:18 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Mon Apr 13 10:00:26 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Exposure to Substance Use Prevention Messages.... Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090413100111.037f7248@ncf.ca> http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k9/prevention/prevention.pdf Exposure to Substance Use Prevention Messages and Substance Use among Adolescents: 2002 to 2007 (link to PDF, 4 pages) The NSDUH Report Office of Applied Studies Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (USA) April 2, 2009 Nothing about alcohol and pregnancy U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health In Brief From 2002 to 2007, there were decreases in the percentages of adolescents aged 12 to 17 reporting exposure to drug or alcohol use prevention messages through media sources (from 83.2 to 77.9 percent) and prevention programs outside of school (from 12.7 to 11.3 percent), but the percentage who had talked with their parents about the dangers of alcohol, drug, or tobacco use in the past year increased (from 58.1 to 59.6 percent) Combined data from 2002 to 2007 indicate that talking with a parent about the dangers of substance use decreased with age (61.6 percent of those aged 12 or 13, 59.5 percent of those aged 14 or 15, and 57.1 percent of those aged 16 or 17), whereas the percentage receiving prevention messages through media sources increased with age (77.0, 82.7, and 84.2 percent, respectively) In general, adolescents who reported having been exposed to substance use prevention messages in the past year were less likely than those who were not exposed to have used cigarettes, alcohol, and illicit drugs in the past month From rosse at ncf.ca Mon Apr 13 11:06:07 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Mon Apr 13 10:09:07 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Frogs reveal clues about the effects of alcohol during development Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090413100600.0319b708@ncf.ca> http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/04/06/frogs.reveal.clues.about.effects.alcohol.during.development e! Science News Frogs reveal clues about the effects of alcohol during development Published: Monday, April 6, 2009 - 02:43 in Health & Medicine Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) cause malformations in babies, including facial defects, short stature, and mental and behavioral abnormalities. The African frog, Xenopus, is a valuable tool for understanding early vertebrate development since these embryos are large, easy to work with and very responsive to environmental cues. New research uses this system to address the mechanism underlying the characteristics associated with maternal consumption of alcohol in early pregnancy. Alcohol consumption prevents normal development by inhibiting the production of retinoic acid. Under normal conditions, the levels of retinoic acid made in different areas of the embryo provide cells with necessary information about their proper location and fate. Researchers now show that alcohol steals away the molecules that make retinoic acid and use them for its own process of detoxification, resulting in cellular disorientation during a critical period of development. The new study, published in Disease Models & Mechanisms (DMM), dmm.biologists.org, provides evidence that the characteristics associated with FASD and FAS come from competition of alcohol for key molecules in a pathway that produce retinoic acid from vitamin A. Retinoic acid is needed for correct positioning of cells in developing embryos and by preventing its normal production, alcohol keeps cells from migrating to their correct positions and maturing properly. The researchers, at the Hebrew University in Israel, found that shutting down a molecule needed to produce retinoic acid, called retinaldehyde dehydrogenase or RALDH2, increased sensitivity of developing embryos to low doses of alcohol. Conversely, more of the molecule RALDH2 protected embryos from the negative effects of alcohol. This provides evidence that alcohol 'hijacks' RALDH2 molecules for its own breakdown process and steals it away from its important role in synthesizing positional and maturation cues during development. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) cause malformations in babies, including facial defects, short stature, and mental and behavioral abnormalities. The African frog, Xenopus, is a valuable tool for understanding early vertebrate development since these embryos are large, easy to work with and very responsive to environmental cues. New research uses this system to address the mechanism underlying the characteristics associated with maternal consumption of alcohol in early pregnancy. Source: The Company of Biologists -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090413/78e9b3bf/attachment.html From rosse at ncf.ca Mon Apr 13 11:17:50 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Mon Apr 13 10:18:17 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] British Columbia's Approach to Alcohol Policy Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090413101743.0319b018@ncf.ca> Skipped content of type multipart/related-------------- next part -------------- From rosse at ncf.ca Wed Apr 15 15:32:17 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Wed Apr 15 14:39:12 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Ontario FASD respite survey to April 20 Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090415143205.03843828@ncf.ca> Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:19:13 -0700 (PDT) From: Laurie Whyte Subject: FASD respite survey The FASD respite survey is still up and running...until April 20. Even if you do not have any respite in place, please take a moment and complete the survey, the more responses we have the louder our voices will be! Click the link below: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=mpkXcnFIvJsTQIE6QuuV2w_3d_3d Thank you! Laurie Whyte Respite Consultant Intervention and Surpport Committee FASD Stakeholders Ontario From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 16 18:30:23 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 16 17:30:23 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] E-Consultation Mental Health Commission of Canada - April 19 deadline Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090416173012.03f0ab28@ncf.ca> The Mental Health Commission of Canada is conducting an e-consultation with regard to the draft of a National Mental Health Strategy. The deadline to respond has been extended to April 19. You can participate as an individual citizen or as a representative of an organization or group. We should make sure that they consider child and youth mental health and concurrent disorders and include FASD. I urge you to respond to this e-consultation which can be found at www.mentalhealthcommission.ca From Elspeth http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/english/pages/default.aspx Mental Health Commission of Canada https://mentalhealthcommission.dialoguecircles.com/ Participate until April 19, in the e-consultation to help develop a mental health strategy for Canada Click here to read full framework Consultation extended! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090416/e103e243/attachment.html From w.burgoyne at healthnexus.ca Tue Apr 14 15:46:53 2009 From: w.burgoyne at healthnexus.ca (Burgoyne, Wendy) Date: Fri Apr 17 08:36:21 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] April 2009 edition of FASD Ontario News Message-ID: <8586DB900AAEF24798E6BB1F19510253018397EF@sv004.OPC.ON.CA> FASD Stakeholders of Ontario is pleased to announce the availability of the April 2009 edition of FASD Ontario News. This newsletter provides information that will help people in Ontario work together to address FASD. It reports on the activities of FASD Stakeholders for Ontario, and shares news of relevance to individuals, caregivers and service providers in Ontario who are working in the area of FASD. This edition includes information about provincial FASD initiatives, results of recent surveys about alcohol use prior to conception and during pregnancy in Ontario, new FASD resources, upcoming FASD events, and much more. The newsletter was edited by the Best Start Resource Centre. Development of the newsletter was supported by funding provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada. The newsletter is available online at: http://www.beststart.org/projects/index.html#fasd Wendy Burgoyne Best Start Resource Centre Lead Best Start: Ontario's Maternal, Newborn and Early Child Development Resource Centre Health Nexus Box 698, 96 Broadway Ave Wawa, ON, POS IKO Tel: 1-705-856-2997 or 1-800-397-9567 x2279 Fax: 1-705-856-1320 New Email: w.burgoyne@healthnexus.ca Effective April 1, 2008 the Ontario Prevention Clearinghouse became Health Nexus, and in French Nexus Sant?. Please update your records with my new e-mail address. Health Nexus Sant? will continue to help you promote health better. _______________________________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090414/3a131571/attachment.html From rosse at ncf.ca Fri Apr 17 15:36:02 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Fri Apr 17 14:36:17 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Forgetful Frankie: book about boy with FASD Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090417143554.0383da10@ncf.ca> Skipped content of type multipart/related-------------- next part -------------- From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 23 22:22:34 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 23 21:24:14 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Alcohol Use in "What Mothers Say..." Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090423212221.0467fcd0@ncf.ca> "...During pregnancy, 92.3% of women living in a household at or below the low income cut-off reported not drinking compared with 88.2% of women living in a household above the low income cut-off...." www.publichealth.gc.ca/mes What mothers say: the Canadian maternity experiences survey (link to PDF, 236 pages) Ce-que dissent les m?res : l'Enqu?te canadienne sur l'exp?rience de la maternit? (lien vers le PDF, 246 pages) Public Health Agency of Canada. What Mothers Say: the Canadian Maternity Experiences Survey. 2009 [FASD is only mentioned in the section on "Alcohol Use" on page 84, and in the references on page 89] 11 Alcohol Use Patricia O'Campo, Mary Johnston Introduction Alcohol is a teratogen and prenatal exposure can lead to a range of conditions known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).1,2 The cognitive, behavioural, neurodevelopmental, physiological or physical impairments that may occur with FASD have implications for the individual over their lifespan. The specifi c outcomes vary with the timing of the exposure, the dose or amount of alcohol consumed, the frequency and pattern of consumption, as well as the health, nutritional status and genetic makeup of the pregnant women and other social and environmental factors.3,4 The diagnosis of FASD is challenging because the effects of prenatal exposure to alcohol vary widely and clinical signs are diffi cult to recognize in newborns and infants. The condition is often detected as children advance in school or during the teenage years. Estimates suggest that fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), the most severe of the diagnostic conditions within the spectrum, is present in three out of 1,000 live births, whereas FASD (including FAS, partial fetal alcohol syndrome, alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorders and alcohol-related birth defects) is present in nine out of 1,000 live births.4,5 Research suggests that drinking even a small amount of alcohol during pregnancy can have a negative impact on the developing fetal brain.6?8 Current clinical guidelines recommend that when planning a pregnancy and during pregnancy no alcohol is best.9 Because of the high proportion of unplanned pregnancies, drinking during the early stages of pregnancy, before a woman realizes she is pregnant, can occur. Therefore, understanding alcohol consumption patterns during child-bearing years and pregnancy is key to assessing the level of risk in the population. In the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey, 10.5% of women who had given birth in the preceding five years reported drinking alcohol during pregnancy.10 The MES asked women how frequently they consumed alcohol during the three months prior to becoming pregnant or before realizing they were pregnant. Women were also asked how much alcohol they consumed after realizing they were pregnant. The following defi nitions were used for the purposes of grouping the data: frequent, once per week or more, including daily; infrequent, two to three times per month or less; and not drinking...... [Results and Figures pages 85-88] Summary Alcohol consumption decreased substantially from the three months prior to pregnancy (62.4% of women) to during pregnancy (10.5% of women). During pregnancy, 92.3% of women living in a household at or below the low income cut-off reported not drinking compared with 88.2% of women living in a household above the low income cut-off. Limitations Self-reports of alcohol consumption may be underestimates due to the potential under-reporting of socially undesirable behaviours by mothers. References 1. Jones KL, Smith DW, Ulleland CN, Streissguth P. Pattern of malformation in offspring of chronic alcoholic mothers. Lancet. 1973;1(7815):1267?71. 2. Sokol RJ, Clarren SK. Guidelines for use of terminology describing the impact of prenatal alcohol on the offspring. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1989;13(4):597?8. 3. Sampson PD, Bookstein FL, Barr HM, Streissguth AP. Prenatal alcohol exposure, birthweight, and measures of child size from birth to age 14 years. Am J Public Health. 1994;84(9):1421?8. 4. Sampson PD, Streissguth AP, Bookstein FL, Little RE, Clarren SK, Dehaene P, et al. Incidence of fetal alcohol syndrome and prevalence of alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder. Teratol. 1997;56(5):317?26. 5. Sokol RJ, Delaney-Black V, Nordstrom B. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. JAMA. 2003;290(22):2996?9. 6. Sood B, Delaney-Black V, Covington C, Nordstrom-Klee B, Ager J, Templin T, et al. Prenatal alcohol exposure and childhood behaviour at age 6 to 7 years: I. dose-response effect. Pediatrics. 2001;108(2):E34. 7. Wilford JA, Richardson GA, Leech SL, Day NL. Verbal and visuospatial learning and memory function in children with moderate prenatal alcohol exposure. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2004;28(3):497?507. 8. Wilford JA, Leech SL, Day NL. Moderate prenatal alcohol exposure and cognitive status of children at age 10. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2006;30(6):1051?9. 9. Best Start: Ontario?s Maternal, Newborn and Early Child Development Support Centre. Supporting change: preventing and addressing alcohol use in pregnancy handbook. Toronto: Best Start Resource Centre; 2005. 10. Public Health Agency of Canada. Canadian Perinatal Health Report, 2008 Edition. Ottawa, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090423/d7dbb29a/attachment.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 23 22:23:15 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 23 21:24:18 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Nunavut strikes working group to review Liquor Act Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090423212254.045896b0@ncf.ca> http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2009/03/24/nunavut-act.html cbcnews.ca Canada Nunavut strikes working group to review Liquor Act Last Updated: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 | 5:15 PM CT CBC News Nunavummiut will get a chance to tell the territorial government how it should update its Liquor Act, which was adopted from the Northwest Territories when Nunavut was created 10 years ago. The Nunavut government has formed an interdepartmental working group to review the act, Finance Minister Keith Peterson told MLAs in the legislative assembly Monday. "The Department of Finance is working with a number of government departments [in an] interdepartmental working group to review the legislation," Peterson told CBC News outside the legislature. "Then at some point, they'll go out on public consultations, and that will be an opportunity for communities and individuals to comment on how the Liquor Act can be improved or amended." Peterson warned that the public consultation process could take several years to complete. Under the current act, Nunavut communities have varying levels of alcohol restrictions, with some opting to stay dry while others have local committees that regulate the import of alcohol. Questions about updating the act were initially raised by South Baffin MLA Fred Schell, who said the legislation should be more universal. "A big concern is that it's not consistent in all of the communities in Nunavut, and I think we have to address it, because different communities have different restrictions," Schell said. Bob Long, chairman of the Nunavut Liquor Licensing Board, agreed that now is the time to update the Liquor Act. "If the general consensus and our political masters determine that more liberalization should be in place, then I wouldn't argue with that," Long said. "But I think that process is necessary first." The Northwest Territories, which Nunavut was a part of prior to 1999, updated its own Liquor Act last fall. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090423/b70af20c/attachment.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 23 22:25:18 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 23 21:24:21 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Guidelines for alcohol, pregnancy in works Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090423212506.045884a0@ncf.ca> http://news.guelphmercury.com/article/447244 GuelphMercury.com Guelph, Ontario Guidelines for alcohol, pregnancy in works March 02, 2009 Vik Kirsch Mercury Staff GUELPH Local people familiar with the adverse effects of alcohol consumption on unborn children say health professionals vary widely in their advice to pregnant women, which is why they're welcoming a move from a national organization to create more consistency. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada is creating national guidelines for health professionals on preventing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Children whose mothers drink during pregnancy can develop problems that range from birth defects to brain damage and developmental problems. Shiona Watson, a support group facilitator and parent of a child with the disorder, says some health professionals tell pregnant women one or two drinks a week won't harm the growing fetus. "We have no evidence one or two drinks a week is fine," Watson said. Local FASD consultant Chris Margetson said health professionals have also been known to tell women they can continue drinking after the third month of pregnancy. "They don't get that there is no safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy," said Margetson, who oversees three support groups and is the parent of a grown son with FASD. Both women welcomed the national society's intention, announced Thursday, to promote a more consistent message among health professionals who advise, screen and monitor alcohol consumption among pregnant women. "I think its definitely a good idea," said Margetson, who's an adviser to the organization. The guidelines will have the added benefit of raising awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Margetson said. Between one and three per cent of children are born with some form of the disorder, of which Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is the most severe form. "But many, many are not diagnosed until they're older, if at all," she said. With a correct diagnosis early in a child's life, the effects of the disorder can be mitigated through better parenting -- for example, with an emphasis on positive reinforcement and gentle nurturing rather than admonishing bad behaviour. Children with FASD don't respond to admonishments. Understanding of FASD is still incomplete, especially among the general public, Margetson said. "We've only known about it since the '70s." It can take parents who suspect something's wrong with their child's development years to get a correct diagnosis, Margetson said. She conducted a study of 200 parents of children with the disorder in the late 1990s and found a high percentage had had a prior misdiagnosis. With this misdiagnosis came inappropriate medication and behaviour modification therapy, she said. Medical professionals have been reluctant over the years to make an FASD finding, she said. "They almost resist the FASD diagnosis. Historically, it's been a terrible label on a child." Watson welcomed the national society's new effort to get a more consistent message out, which she said should emphasize no consumption of alcohol. "Don't drink if you're trying to get pregnant," Watson advised. If you're having sex without contraception "you shouldn't be drinking either." Of course, you should also abstain during pregnancy, Watson said. Watson said informed doctors can help wean addicts off alcohol during pregnancy, or at least work toward that goal. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090423/100e1134/attachment.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 23 22:26:06 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 23 21:30:51 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Misconceptions about fetal alcohol syndrome Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090423212559.0468db08@ncf.ca> http://news.guelphmercury.com/Opinions/article/448993 GuelphMercury.com Guelph, Ontario Misconceptions about fetal alcohol syndrome March 07, 2009 Laurie Whyte Dear Editor - I read the article "Guidelines for alcohol, pregnancy in works" (Guelph Mercury, March 3) with much interest. It is imperative that society understands that absolutely no alcohol is safe during pregnancy. However, I was alarmed and disappointed that the article inadvertently perpetuated some common misconceptions about fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). First, while fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is one possible diagnosis on the fetal alcohol spectrum, it is not the most severe diagnosis. In fact, the only difference between FAS and alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND) are the facial features present in individuals with FAS that do not develop normally because of maternal alcohol consumption. The other outcomes of maternal drinking such as brain damage, sensory issues and cognitive delays are the same. Furthermore, because those with ARND do not have the physical features their disability is completely invisible. They are often labelled as behaviour problems, lazy, disrespectful and volatile while their caregivers fight and struggle to access services that would be of benefit. Second, the article states that "with a correct diagnosis early in a child's life, the effects can be mitigated through better parenting." I would prefer that it read: "With an early diagnosis parents/teachers/caregivers can better understand the child differently, allowing them to parent/teach differently not better." That is because as a parent of a child diagnosed with ARND, I am frustrated by the number of times people tell me that if I would just "be a better parent," "set clearer limits," "discipline him more," "stop babying him" that his "problems" would be so much better. The majority of traditional parenting strategies do not work with children with an FASD. Rewards and tokens do not work; time outs do not work; behavioural strategies do not work. Our children learn differently and each parent has to try thousands of different strategies to find one that works today -- and it may not work tomorrow. It has nothing to do with parenting skills -- it is about brain damage. Please continue to shed light on this lifelong disability. As we talk about FASD more, the misconceptions will one day be replaced by compassion and understanding. -- Laurie Whyte, Guelph -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090423/a9d60097/attachment-0001.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 23 22:26:37 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 23 21:30:57 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Some moms still smoking, drinking during pregnancy Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090423212630.047657f8@ncf.ca> http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090324/birth_survey_090324/20090324?hub=Health ctv.ca Health Some moms still smoking, drinking during pregnancy Updated Tue. Mar. 24 2009 4:04 PM ET CTV.ca News Staff The first-ever nationwide survey of women's maternity experiences finds that while most Canadian women found their birth to be a positive experience, there were a number of areas of concern. The Maternity Experiences Survey (MES) interviewed 6,421 women, asking them more than 300 questions about their pregnancy and birth experiences. The survey found that the overwhelming majority of mothers -- 80 per cent -- were satisfied with their labour and birth. Fifty-four per cent said their experience was "very positive" and 26 per cent said it was "somewhat positive." More than half (57 per cent) of women said that most days in the year before their baby was born were either "somewhat stressful" or "very stressful." Many of the women admitted they were guilty of not following some of the recommendations of medical experts during pregnancy. For example: * 11 per cent said they smoked during pregnancy * 23 per cent say they lived with a smoker while pregnant * 11 per cent said they drank alcohol during pregnancy It was also noted that many women were not breastfeeding for the full first six months after birth. Almost 90 per cent of mothers say they started breastfeeding, and by six months, 14 per cent were still breastfeeding exclusively; another 54 per cent reported some breastfeeding. The Canadian Paediatric Society and other groups recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a healthy baby's life, and then breastfeeding alongside complementary foods up to two years of age and beyond. Health care workers, too, were guilty of employing practices no longer recommended by the medical community, such as continuous use of electronic fetal monitoring during labour to check the baby's heart rate. Research has found that continuous heart rate monitoring is related to increased use of caesarean births, forceps or vacuum. Experts recommend that continuous monitoring be reserved for higher risk labour or if there are concerns about the baby. Despite those recommendations, nearly two-thirds of the mothers (63 per cent) reported that fetal heart monitoring was continuous during their births. Almost half of the women interviewed (48 per cent) said they gave birth lying flat on their back, and 57 per cent of women said their legs were in stirrups when their baby was born. That's despite research that show that an upright or side-lying position can contribute to a shorter labour. They can also help mothers avoid medical interventions such as an episiotomy. "Do women know the benefits of an upright position for labour and birth? How can women be supported to fully explore the options for labour and birth position with their health care provider?" the authors ask in a section of the study report titled "Some Things to Think About." Other findings included: * 97.9 per cent of births occurred in hospitals or clinics * 26.3 per cent of women had caesarian births * While almost 90 per cent of women took folic acid supplements during the first three months of pregnancy, only 58 per cent had taken the supplements in the three months prior to conception, the period considered crucial for preventing neural tube defects * While almost all hospitals have policies against routine vaginal shaving or enemas in preparation for birth, 19 per cent of women said they were shaved and five per cent had an enema The MES Survey used questionnaires to understand women's perceptions of their birth experiences. The authors note that traditional analysis using databases, national vital statistics and hospital discharge records often do not give a full picture of women's experiences. The Study Group was particularly interested in understanding the experiences of younger mothers (15-19 years), recent immigrant mothers, and First Nations, Inuit and M?tis mothers, as these women are believed to be at increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. The study authors say their survey was important because "by hearing what women say about their maternity experiences, health care providers, public health officials, policy makers and families can work toward the best possible outcomes for all mothers and babies in Canada." -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090423/e2cd9bf0/attachment-0001.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 23 22:27:15 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 23 21:30:59 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Exercise for your mind Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090423212707.04761e80@ncf.ca> "...The link between FASD and exercise first occurred to Christie at a medical conference...." http://ring.uvic.ca/09mar05/excercise.html The Ring University of Victoria, B.C. Features Exercise for your mind A clear link between exercise and brain health holds promise for the treatment of neurological disorders March 2009 By Sheila Potter [Photo] Christie with an image of a newly developed neuron. Photo: Diana Nethercott In case you needed one, here?s another good reason to exercise?it can make you smarter. University of Victoria neuroscientist Dr. Brian Christie was one of the first researchers to discover that exercise stimulates the growth of brain cells in the hippocampus, an area of the brain involved with learning and memory. The finding debunked the long-held belief that our brains aren?t able to produce new cells?known as neurons?as we age. ?We now know that new neurons are produced continually throughout our lives and that this process can be ramped up or dampened by our lifestyles,? says Christie. ?In other words, the better we take care of our brains, the better they function.? Christie studies the biological mechanisms in the brain that are activated by exercise. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms may ultimately result in new approaches to establishing, maintaining and even enhancing brain cells and their connections as we age. The applications of Christie?s research are astonishingly broad. Exercise seems to reduce the impact of any stress on the brain, whether the stress comes from a hard day at work or from such neurological disorders as Alzheimer?s disease, autism, stroke or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). FASD refers to a spectrum of disorders associated with poor learning, attention, memory and behavioural problems. ?FASD is a tricky problem, because a lot of women don?t realize that they are pregnant in the early stages and can consume alcohol unwittingly, and they may not be aware of the toxic effects of alcohol on the developing fetus,? says Christie. ?The bottom line is that no amount of alcohol is safe when you?re pregnant.? The link between FASD and exercise first occurred to Christie at a medical conference. ?The presenter was describing how children with FASD have fewer neurons in their hippocampus, and that these neurons are less branched,? he says. ?This is the diametric opposite of the positive effects of exercise. It was a definite ?aha? moment.? Using sophisticated microscopy and protein chemistry techniques, Christie and his team have demonstrated that exercise promotes the growth of new neurons in FASD brains, and that these neurons are better able to communicate with each other. In fact, Christie was surprised by how big a difference exercise makes for FASD compared to other brain disorders he has studied. He believes daily exercise should be a key treatment for FASD, guessing that an hour a day, continuous or broken up, might be enough. Christie notes that FASD can be very difficult to diagnose and children showing symptoms are often misdiagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These kids are typically discouraged from running around for fear they will get overexcited?clearly a bad strategy given his findings. Christie and his team are now looking at the effects of different amounts of alcohol at various stages of pregnancy. They?re also investigating sex differences?it?s possible that testosterone makes developing brains more susceptible to alcohol damage, making FASD worse in boys. Christie?s research is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090423/cd4de20a/attachment-0001.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 23 22:28:00 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 23 21:31:04 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Brain Gains: Can exercise help people learn? Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090423212753.0468d9a8@ncf.ca> http://www.cbc.ca/national/blog/special_features/brain_gains.html CBCnews The National April 22, 2009 Brain Games Can exercise help people learn? It?s an exciting idea, and one that?s being tested in the U.S. and Canada. One pilot program took place in the spring of 2008, when Saskatoon teacher Allison Cameron put her Grade 8 students on treadmills during class. She tracked their results, not just in behavior, but in academics, and the results were astonishing. Find out about her experiment, and much more on this subject, here. Watch the documentary (Runs 14:52) New research and pilot fitness programs in schools are showing positive results that exercise helps the human brain learn. Joan Leishman reports ... view? Brain Gains Special Feature Ask Allison Cameron Send your question! view? City Park School Results Academic test results view? Jordan and the City Park Students Text and video view? How Exercise Promotes Learning Read or watch view? Want to start your own program? Teachers and community view? Visit The Brain Gains archive for a complete list of videos available in this section. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090423/71e5bba8/attachment-0001.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 23 22:29:07 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 23 21:31:12 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Kids with FASD need more services: Alberta educators Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090423212859.0476b008@ncf.ca> http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2009/03/08/edm-fasd-scott-robertson-elementary.html cbcnews.ca Canada Kids with FASD need more services: Alberta educators Last Updated: Monday, March 9, 2009 | 9:57 AM MT CBC News Learning disabilities, memory loss, a short attention span and difficulty understanding the consequences of actions ? these are just a few of the problems faced by students whose mothers drank during pregnancy. And while Alberta is considered a leader in the detection and treatment of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, more needs to be done to provide the special programs FASD students need to overcome their disabilities, Alberta educators say. The early education program at Scott Robertson Elementary, which is open to kids between 18 months and five years of age who have been diagnosed with FASD, appears to be a step in the right direction. One parent, whose daughter is sharpening her language skills in the preschool program, said it helps students get more of the skills they need before they reach Grade 1. She said teachers in higher grades at the school also understand the needs of FASD children. "The continuity is amazing," she said. "All of the staff talk and everyone at the school understands." Specialized support But the school doesn't stop there ? it continues to offer specialized support to students after they enter the first grade. "There's not a specific classroom for FASD after you reach six years old. What happens after that ? we have various different kinds of specialized classrooms," said vice principal Wendy McKenzie. "We have children who have mild cognitive delay ? which some FASD children have ? but that's not necessarily what their total picture is, so the funding that provides that type of programming is not going to meet all of their needs." But not all of the students in the preschool program will stay at Scott Robertson Elementary, McKenzie said. Many go on to other schools in the area, McKenzie said, and those schools often want to send kids back because they don't have the expertise or special programs to deal with FASD. The province should target money specifically for students with the disorder, McKenzie said, in order to provide schools with the tools they need to support their students. The province said it is currently reviewing special-needs education and, if changes are necessary, they will be made by the fall of 2011. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090423/33139249/attachment-0001.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 23 22:29:46 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 23 21:31:17 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Alcohol in pregnancy may give kids a taste for booze Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090423212938.04682fe0@ncf.ca> http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16721-alcohol-in-pregnancy-may-give-kids-a-taste-for-booze.html New Scientist Life Alcohol in pregnancy may give kids a taste for booze 21:00 09 March 2009 by Linda Geddes Alcohol may taste sweeter if you were exposed to it before birth, suggests a study in rats. The findings may shed new light on why human studies have previously linked fetal alcohol exposure to increased alcohol abuse later in life, and to a lower age at which a person first starts drinking alcohol. Alcohol's taste is a mixture of sweet and bitter components. To test whether prenatal alcohol exposure could affect the perception of these components, Steven Youngentob at the State University of New York in Syracuse and John Glendinning at Columbia University in New York measured how avidly rats consumed ethanol, sweet water or bitter water. They found that young rats whose mothers had consumed alcohol during pregnancy preferred ethanol and consumed more of the bitter water than the offspring of mothers that didn't consume alcohol. Rats that had been exposed to alcohol in the uterus also seemed to be more attracted to the smell of alcohol. Prenatal exposure seems to reduce the perceived bitterness of alcohol, making it seem sweeter, says Youngentob. Both of these differences seemed to disappear once the rats reached adulthood ? but only if they hadn't tasted alcohol during their youth. If prenatally exposed rats did consume alcohol in their youth, these preferences seemed to become set for life. "The take-home message is to keep kids away from alcohol for as long as possible ? particularly if they have had prenatal exposure," says Youngentob. Aversion therapy? The next question is whether it might be possible to reverse these preferences. "If we knew a child had prior fetal exposure to ethanol, are there strategies that could be used with those kids to devalue those odour and taste preferences?" Youngentob asks. For example, preliminary studies in rats have suggested that giving a young prenatally exposed rat some alcohol and a drug that makes them sick at the same time, stops their craving for alcohol. Youngentob also believes that the ability to transfer dietary flavours from mother to fetus may have had evolutionary benefits. "One of the ways that animals learn what's good to eat in the world, is on the basis of what mom ate during pregnancy," he says. We already know that babies will show a preference for the flavour of anise if their mothers consumed it during pregnancy, and flavours can also be transferred through breast milk. Journal reference: Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0809804106) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090423/91ad8ecf/attachment.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 23 22:36:27 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 23 21:36:17 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] 2 women sentenced to jail for massive fire at condo project: B. C. Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090423213619.045685e8@ncf.ca> "...the judge says she understood the young woman was on crystal meth at the time and suffers from attention deficit disorder and fetal alcohol syndrome..." 2 women sentenced to jail for massive fire at condo project; One gets three years, the other 21/2 for blaze that caused $2.5 million damage Catherine Rolfsen. The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, B.C.: Apr 14, 2009. pg. A.2 Two young women have been sentenced to prison terms for their roles in a massive Abbotsford condominium fire than caused more than $2.5 million in damage and injured five firefighters. In sentencing documents, Provincial Court Judge Jill Rounthwaite reprimanded Danielle Toplass and Angela Arkesteyn-Vogler, both in their early 20s, for committing "an extremely foolish act" in July 2008. According to the documents, the young women set fire to a condominium building under construction, burning it down at a loss of $2.5 million. The fire spread, causing another $32,000 in damage to cable and telephone poles, affecting surrounding business, and then setting ablaze a rental home, destroying nearly $6,000 of a family's belongings, Rounthwaite wrote. A father and his 13-year-old daughter escaped the home without injury, the judge said, but "were left standing out in the street in tears witnessing their life get destroyed." One hundred firefighters responded to the incident, the document says, and five of them were injured in the process. The document does not detail the extent of their injuries, but says the firefighters were off work for 20 days. "The potential for somebody being killed out of all of this was extreme, and it strikes me it could easily have been you, on the third floor of this building, pouring gas and setting a match," Rounthwaite said. "It could easily have been you going up in smoke." Toplass and Arkesteyn-Vogler were sentenced to prison terms of three years and two and a half years respectively, less one year's time that each had already served. The women were each ordered to pay the family whose belongings were destroyed a third of the losses or $1,949.05, for a total of just under $4,000. The motive for the arson was unclear, Rounthwaite said in her reasons. The document says Toplass knew somebody who may have been fired by the developer or someone connected with the development. As for Arkesteyn-Vogler, the judge says she understood the young woman was on crystal meth at the time and suffers from attention deficit disorder and fetal alcohol syndrome. crolfsen@vancouversun.com Credit: Catherine Rolfsen; Vancouver Sun -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090423/5d972bde/attachment.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 23 22:37:03 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 23 21:36:22 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Many challenges associated with FASD Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090423213655.04568c50@ncf.ca> http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1528786 Daily Herald Tribune Grande Prairie, Alberta Arts/Life Columns Many challenges associated with FASD Alberta Health Services Posted 3 days ago [as of April 21, 2009] The term Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) describes the range of disabilities that result from prenatal exposure to alcohol. According to the Government of Alberta, prenatal exposure to alcohol is one of the leading causes of preventable birth defects and developmental delays in children in Canada. Because FASD is a life-long condition, supports are often required across the lifespan as children affected by FASD transition into adulthood. FASD was first recognized as a medical condition in 1973 in North America. Researchers, physicians and other health professionals continue to work diligently to educate the public about the consequences of alcohol consumption on the unborn child. Currently, experts conclude there is no safe amount of alcohol for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. There are a variety of diagnoses under the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder umbrella including, but not limited to, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (PFAS) and Alcohol-Related Neurological Disorders (ARND). There are a variety of challenges associated with FASD. These can include physical and developmental disabilities, growth deficiencies, intellectual and social challenges, difficulty with attention, challenges in the school environment, impulsivity, and/or problems maintaining employment. The Northwest Alberta FASD Service Network is a group consisting of key stakeholders, community agencies, family members, and organizations across the Northwest Region of Alberta. The goals of the network are to build community capacity and enhance collaboration in addressing the following issues across the lifespan for individuals and communities affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Targeted and Indicated Prevention ? Based on mentorship and outreach models, for women and families most at-risk of having children who are affected by FASD; Assessment and Diagnosis ? Programs and services intended to provide support to individuals and families who require an assessment and/or diagnosis. Supports for individuals and caregivers ? Programs and services to support individuals and families affected by FASD. The Northwest Alberta FASD Service Network area includes the three major service communities of Peace River, High Prairie and Grande Prairie. The network boundaries reach north to Manning, east to Kinuso, south to Fox Creek and Grande Cache, and west to the B.C. border. If you believe or suspect that you or someone you know is affected by FASD, there are many ways to reach out for support. You can start by calling your family doctor, the local mental health clinic, or your local Child and Family Services Authority. Additionally, for more information about the local resources and support services in the Northwest Alberta Network area, you can also contact the Northwest Alberta FASD Coordinator. The co-ordinator can provide you with information about how to access assessment and diagnostic services, prevention and outreach programming, and support services for individuals and caregivers affected by FASD across the lifespan. For more information on nutrition for activity please contact a registered dietitian at your local Public Health Centre. For more health information, call HealthLink, 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-866-408-LINK (5465). Submitted by Carey Williams, co-ordinator of the Northwest Alberta Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Service Network. carey.williams@albertahealthservices.ca Article ID# 1528786 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090423/17c9e2a0/attachment.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 23 22:37:40 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 23 21:36:29 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Alcohol damages new generation of babies: Australia Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090423213734.04564850@ncf.ca> http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/alcohol-damages-new-generation-babies/story.aspx?guid=%7B7CE1F254-45BF-4001-A969-949A29DA72A5%7D&dist=msr_2 MarketWatch Wall Street Journal Digital Network Alcohol damages new generation of babies Last update: 11:45 a.m. EDT March 23, 2009 HALLS CREEK, Australia, Mar 23, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Doctors say alcoholism is so prevalent in parts of Australia's Kimberley region that teens with fetal alcohol syndrome have babies with the same problems. Girls as young as 13 and 14 whose mothers were alcoholics have become alcoholics themselves and now are giving birth to babies with defects and brain damage, said Dr. David Shepherd, senior doctor at Halls Creek Hospital. Anecdotal evidence from doctors suggests that nearly 30 percent of babies born in Halls Creek have been affected by alcohol in the womb, The Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported Monday. Residents of the region are divided on whether tougher restrictions on alcohol, including prohibition, could help reduce the problem. Aboriginal elder Doreen Green said she favors tougher restrictions while hotel and bar owner Martin Pierson-Jones argues alcohol ID cards are the better solution. "People who have got problems can be refused service," he said. "There are better ways of going (about it) than purely prohibition." www.upi.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090423/6ab0b00e/attachment.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 23 22:38:19 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 23 21:42:22 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] ldeals are irrelevant: Australia Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090423213810.04564ae0@ncf.ca> :...Children born with FAS struggle to function in society..." http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25247871-16382,00.html The Australian Opinion ldeals are irrelevant March 27, 2009 Article from: The Australian A UN declaration of rights will not help indigenous children ABORIGINAL activists who focus on abstract rights will be delighted by Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin's announcement that Australia will sign the UN's Declaration of Indigenous Rights. Australian of the Year Mick Dodson, who helped draft the document, will surely be pleased. The declaration also addresses issues that concern activists such as Halls Creek elder Doreen Green, who told ABC TV's Lateline program on Monday night that fetal alcohol syndrome among Aborigines was genocide, because its victims will not be able to "pass on their knowledge and understanding to their descendants". For people who believe statements of rights and the preservation of culture are essential aspects of addressing indigenous suffering in Australia, Ms Macklin's decision is a step forward. But everybody interested in individuals, like the children of Halls Creek born brain-damaged due to their mothers' alcohol addiction, will not share this enthusiasm. Ms Macklin's announcement is a sideshow but one with a real risk that, yet again, the rights of individuals who happen to be Aboriginal will come second to statements of principle. Suzanne Smith's Lateline reports this week on the Halls Creek crisis starkly set out why. Children born with FAS struggle to function in society and are cursed by a craving for drink acquired in the womb. And in Halls Creek, indigenous alcoholism is in such plague proportions that anything up to 90 per cent of children are born with the complaint - 21 times Western Australia's state-wide rate. While there are many causes of alcoholism among indigenous Australians, the particular problem in Halls Creeks is that it is alone in the Kimberley in not having alcohol bans. Premier Colin Barnett wants a total ban put in place and the Opposition agrees. But such a stance may not sit well with advocates of indigenous rights. The Howard Government's Northern Territory intervention program, which remains in place under Labor, restricts residents of some Aboriginal communities to spending welfare payments on food and clothing. But the intervention is widely condemned by indigenous activists who argue it is a breach of people's human rights. Professor Dodson says no Australian should have to accept racial discrimination and last week the UN responded to a complaint from Aboriginal communities by asking the Rudd Government to answer allegations of discrimination. We will hear a great many more such suggestions once the UN declaration is adopted. But in arguing human rights are non-negotiable and that the protection of indigenous culture must be paramount, activists ignore the fact that what matters most are the lives of individuals, especially children. While race-based alcohol bans restrict the rights of people to drink themselves to death, they allow children to grow up well-fed and free of fear of abuse from intoxicated adults. And such bans help ensure children have that most non-negotiable of all rights, a mother whose behaviour does not do them harm. It is time to stop focusing on the collective issues the UN declaration asserts and address the rights of individual Aborigines, especially children whose lives are being ruined before they start by mothers who drink to excess. Ms Green properly wants to end the alcohol culture of Halls Creek - and if this means discriminating against some Aborigines, so be it. The rights of individual children, whatever their race or culture, come first, no matter how much it upsets the UN. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090423/7dc95211/attachment-0001.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 23 22:39:34 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 23 21:42:34 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Screening for alcohol problems in Fitzroy Crossing: Australia Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090423213915.04564d70@ncf.ca> http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25306306-23289,00.html The Australian Screening for alcohol problems in Fitzroy Crossing Paige Taylor | April 08, 2009 Article from: The Australian FITZROY Crossing will screen every child aged three to 10 in the Kimberley town in a bid to discover the full extent of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Fitzroy Crossing leader June Oscar said her town was beginning to heal and assess the damage caused by the chronic consumption of alcohol. She said she hoped the indigenous leaders of the troubled town of Halls Creek -- 290km to the east -- would succeed in their wish for strong alcohol restrictions in their community. "We can continue to share our experiences and encourage others," Ms Oscar said. The program of screening for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Fitzroy Crossing, and providing support to affected children and their parents, comes as the director of liquor licensing considers extending that town's ban on full-strength takeaway alcohol to Halls Creek. Local doctors say up to 30 per cent of children in Halls Creek probably have fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Kimberley senior regional pediatrician John Boulton said alcohol abuse in Halls Creek was worse than it ever was in Fitzroy Crossing before that town's children were given a lifeline in the form of alcohol restrictions in October 2007. "Halls Creek is the worst, it's a war zone," he said. "It's the Gaza Strip of the Kimberley, where the children are the innocent victims of political games played by adults, particularly the alcohol industry, which is saying it's just a small percentage of problem drinkers. That's humbug." Yesterday, the Australian Hotels Association endorsed a call by lawyer John Hammond for a royal commission into indigenous health in the Kimberley. A study of the first 12 months of a ban on the sale of full-strength takeaway alcohol in Fitzroy Crossing found a 36 per cent reduction in the number of alcohol-related emergency department presentations at the town's hospital. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090423/9e1fae74/attachment-0001.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 23 22:40:01 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 23 21:42:37 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Alcohol control cuts police work: Australia Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090423213953.04565000@ncf.ca> "...Health workers in Fitzroy Crossing are now preparing to screen all children for fetal alcohol syndrome..." http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25277257-5006789,00.html The Australian The Nation Alcohol control cuts police work Paige Taylor | April 02, 2009 Article from: The Australian THE Fitzroy Crossing bottleshop sold 133,700 litres of full-strength beer and 2600 litres of spirits in just three months before restrictions slashed police work and hospital admissions in the tiny Kimberley town. The West Australian Drug and Alcohol Office has found police were required to attend 28 per cent fewer alcohol-related tasks in the 12 months after the State Director of Liquor Licensing imposed a landmark ban on the sale of full-strength alcohol in Fitzroy Crossing in October 2007. The report, which also found a 36 per cent reduction in the number of alcohol-related emergency department presentations at Fitzroy Crossing's hospital, comes as the director, Barry Sargeant, considers imposing the same ban in Halls Creek, 290km west of Fitzroy Crossing. But the results in Fitzroy Crossing, which has a population of about 1200, were mixed. There was a 23 per cent increase in reported domestic violence incidents in the year after the alcohol restrictions were imposed. Police have previously attributed this to a shattering of the conspiracy of silence surrounding domestic violence. "Services are finding that with the higher levels of sobriety within the community, people are becoming less tolerant of domestic violence and other incidents and they are now more prepared to make a report," the report says. "Police also believe that the current level of reporting is a more accurate reflection of the extent of the issues within the community than prior to the restrictions being introduced." Health workers in Fitzroy Crossing are now preparing to screen all children for fetal alcohol syndrome. Indigenous women in Fitzroy Crossing were behind the push for alcohol restrictions, and the ban on full-strength takeaway alcohol was imposed as state Coroner Alastair Hope arrived in town last year for hearings into a litany of alcohol-related suicides. Mr Hope was told that alcohol dominated the lives and had ruined the mental health of many Aboriginal families, and that attempting suicide had become a form of self-expression. He later described the plight of the children of the region as pathetic. In Halls Creek, indigenous women are also behind the push for restrictions. But Halls Creek licensees claim the women do not represent the community's views and that alcohol abuse in the town is not widespread. The public debate has escalated since local senior doctor David Shepherd publicly contradicted the licensees by arguing that severe restrictions were drastic but necessary. He said that 90 per cent of pregnant women in Halls Creek drank alcohol and he estimated that a third of children in the town were affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090423/7cf13f1c/attachment-0001.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 23 22:40:39 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 23 21:42:40 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Submissions sought for drawing contest: FASD logo New Brunswick Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090423214031.04561d80@ncf.ca> http://thenorthernlight.canadaeast.com/business/article/612597 The Northern Light Bathurst, New Brunswick Submissions sought for drawing contest Published Tuesday March 24th, 2009 Do you like to draw? You can show off your talents by participating in the FASD Committee logo drawing contest. It's open to Chaleur region residents only and ends April 30. Fetal Alcohol Spectral Disorder (FASD) is a term used to describe any damage caused to a baby because of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The design needs to reflect how everyone plays an important role in helping pregnant women stay away from alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The winner will have the choice of either a Wii or an iPod Touch (a $300 to $400 value) Logos must be done in colour on a white 8?" x 11" sheet of paper, and participants are reminded to give their name, address and telephone number. The winning logo will become property of the FASD Committee and appear on all their documentation. Send entries to: FASD Logo drawing contest, 1175 rue Frenette, Bathurst, N.B. E2A 1J7. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090423/fa2256b0/attachment-0001.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 23 22:42:00 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 23 21:42:42 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Spreading the word on FASD: New Brunswick Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090423214151.04562010@ncf.ca> "...'Our role is also to encourage the provincial government to take action, such as developing a screening clinic',,,," http://tribunenb.canadaeast.com/front/article/642665 The Tribune Campbellton, New Brunswick Breaking News Spreading the word on FASD Published Wednesday April 22nd, 2009 BY MYRIAM LAVALLEE [Photo] Carol Lavalley CAMPBELLTON - In Canada, it is estimated that over 3,000 babies are born each year with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). In New Brunswick, it is estimated that 6,600 people suffer from the effects of alcohol exposure when they were fetuses. More than 700 people are living with FASD in the province, which may be a conservative estimate. FASD refers to all the problems that can affect a child when the mother has consumed alcohol during pregnancy. Formed three years ago, the regional committee for Restigouche educates the public about the potential consequences of alcohol consumption to a pregnant woman. It is composed of eight people working in various areas related to the family, such as Public Health and VON. Carol Lavalley, coordinator of the transition program for School District 5 L'?toile du Nord, is a member of the committee. She explained that the effects of alcohol on the fetus are numerous. The person affected by FASD may suffer intellectual impairment, learning difficulties, attention deficit or memory disorders, retarded growth and difficulty in solving problems. According to Lavalley, it is estimated that 75 per cent of persons in prison suffer from FASD. "A mother who drinks a glass a day could seriously affect her unborn child," Lavalley said. She explained that in many cases of unplanned pregnancy, the mother, not knowing that she is pregnant, may consume alcohol at the beginning of her pregnancy. Others believe that there is no risk to have a drink from time to time. The best solution, it would be to stop all consumption of alcohol when trying to get pregnant or if you have had risky sexual relations. A committee member since its inception, Lavalley has seen changes within the community. "People are much more aware over the past three years," she said. "I think we still have work to do in the peer pressure to the pregnant woman from her friends," she noted. There is no cure for FASD. "Our role is also to encourage the provincial government to take action, such as developing a screening clinic," said Lavalley. "Subsequently, as a committee, we can go further." Only two people in New Brunswick are able to diagnose FASD, and the waiting list for an appointment is nearly two years. The committee will be out at local events this year, spreading the word. For more information, visit www.von.ca/FASD -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090423/b02540f1/attachment-0001.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 23 22:42:43 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 23 21:42:45 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] High school class tackles family, community and global health Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090423214233.045622a0@ncf.ca> "...A talk about pregnancy might cover fetal alcohol syndrome, genetic disorders, heredity and fetal health...." http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-local_healthclass_0327mar27,0,3637958.story dailypress.com Newport, Virginia Newport News High school class tackles family, community and global health. By Cathy Grimes | 757-247-4758 March 27, 2009 NEWPORT NEWS ? Remember your high school health class? Chances are you recall films on hygiene, discussions about hormones and lectures on fitness, nutrition and just saying no to alcohol, drugs and other substance abuse. You probably didn't do a risk assessment of your school, discuss the drawbacks of tattoos and body piercing, or create team projects tackling a global health issue such as famine or AIDS. Susan Ragan's Woodside High School students do all of those things and more. "I'd rather have the kids read current articles and answer questions than watch videos," she said. "There's far more discussion and far more activities." Ragan, a health instructor who recently received a state award for her work, does not have a classroom of her own at the school. She carries her materials on a rolling cart and uses a workroom as her between-classrooms prep space. She focuses on interactivity and timely topics. If it's in the news, it's probably being discussed by her students. Health education in Newport News high schools is split into two semesters. One semester focuses on personal health, zeroing in on nutrition, fitness, safety and first aid, disease prevention and substance use and abuse. Ragan's students study family life and community health, with units on decision making, risk taking, emotions and mental health among other topics. Her students don't spend much time turning textbook pages. Instead, they use computers to read current articles and research on health topics. Their computer work provides a launching point for some of her lessons, such as questioning the credibility of a source, making decisions, and being aware of Internet risks and dangers. "We ask, 'How credible is that information?'" she said. "It is hard for them to do research. They think it's right there. They don't want to read more than one article." The 20-year teaching veteran said high school students are more aware of global and public health issues than they were even a decade ago. "A lot of kids come in with, 'Now I know this, what are we going to do to save the world?'" she said. "For instance, they know about nutrition so they want to feed the world. But there are gaps in what they know." Ragan focuses on filling those gaps. During lessons on risks and choices, students talk about the leading cause of death for young people. Most are not surprised to learn motor vehicle accidents cause the most teen deaths, but they don't know why. "They want to say it's drinking and driving, but it's not," she said. "That's 7 percent of it. They don't know the lead cause is speed." The unit on risks also looks at homicide, the second leading cause of death. Ragan said students assume the murders are related to gangs and are surprised to find eight in 10 teenage homicide victims were killed with firearms. Such statistics fuel classroom discussions about what students can and can't control. She also helps students recognize biases and generalizations: their own and those held by friends and sources. Because students learn about personal health in other classes, she can broaden the discussion to include consequences and choices. When they discuss body piercing and tattoos, students are surprised to learn they can get diseases from needles. A talk about pregnancy might cover fetal alcohol syndrome, genetic disorders, heredity and fetal health. Her class has a broader definition of family than students encountered 20 years ago. "Your family is what you make it. We talk about single parents, foster parents, adoption, wards of the state, blended families," she said. But some topics, such as homosexuality, are not covered by the curriculum. "You have to follow the guidelines," she said. "If the kids do ask, what if, I tell them we look at what info we have." Ragan follows state and district curriculum guidelines for the topics she covers, which include a unit on health careers. But she would like to expand the school's health program. "There is so much more I want to do. I'm looking into dual enrollment courses with Thomas Nelson Community College. I want to have a service learning class," she said. "There is so much I'd like to teach and so little time." 21st-century health class discussion topics ? Personal health with a focus on nutrition, fitness, safety and first aid. For example, in a discussion on body piercing and tattoos, students learn they can get diseases from the needles used. ? A talk about pregnancy might cover fetal alcohol syndrome, genetic disorders, heredity and fetal health. ? How to question the credibility of a source, make decisions and be aware of Internet risks and dangers ? Disease prevention and long-term health and wellness ? Links between personal health and community and national health issues -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090423/cf190383/attachment-0001.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 23 22:43:18 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 23 21:52:10 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Mother-to-be is ordered out of a pub by staff concerned for health of her baby: U.K. Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090423214310.04562530@ncf.ca> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1166124/Mother-ordered-pub-staff-concerned-health-baby.html MailOnline Daily Mail London, U.K. Mother-to-be is ordered out of a pub by staff concerned for health of her baby By Julie Moult Last updated at 8:57 PM on 31st March 2009 [Photo] Pregnant Caroline Williams was ordered out of her local pub after bar staff saw her sipping a friend's pint A pregnant woman was refused a drink at a pub and then asked to leave by staff who said they were protecting her unborn child. Caroline Williams, 26, who is five months pregnant, says she felt humiliated by the treatment. She insists she is a responsible mother and would never endanger her baby. The incident at the Cricketer pub in Hove, East Sussex, has reignited the debate on drinking during pregnancy. Advice from the Chief Medical Officer says that women trying to conceive or who are pregnant should avoid drinking alcohol. Excess alcohol consumption can be the cause of a condition known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome which causes mental retardation and birth defects. But other experts say an occasional glass of wine will not harm a child. Mrs Williams, who lives in Hove with her computer engineer husband Ben, 34, was at the pub with friends last Saturday. She said: 'I was on a rare night out with some friends. I had a pint of lager and a friend offered to get me another half - that was going to be my limit. 'He was refused service because it was for me and when I later took a sip from another friend's glass the assistant manageress asked me and my friends to leave. 'I never felt so singled out and humiliated in my life. 'I don't think what I did was doing any harm. This is my second baby and I'm feeling much more relaxed about this pregnancy than I did with my first. But I'm still very careful. 'I understand what the pub was thinking about but they didn't approach me to discuss it - they were just rude and ordered us out. 'I've never been ordered out of anywhere before and I'm not one to cause a scene, so we just left. 'I know the management has the right to refuse service but the assistant manageress was using that right to impose her opinions about what pregnant women should and shouldn't be consuming.' [Photo] Barred: Caroline Williams was ordered out of the Sussex Cricketers pub after staff saw her sipping beer Pubs have the right to refuse to serve customers and do not need to give a reason for doing so. An assistant manageress, who did not give her name, confirmed she had asked Mrs Williams to leave. She described her as 'a heavily pregnant lady who was drinking alcohol'. Another staff member defended the decision, adding: 'The assistant manageress was only thinking of the welfare of the mother and child.' But a spokesman for the Mitchells and Butler chain which owns the pub apologised and said an investigation had been launched. He said: 'We would like to apologise unreservedly to all of the guests involved for any offence that may have been caused. While the team member may have believed she was acting with her own good intentions, she did not handle the situation in an appropriate manner.' Since May 2007, the Health Service has advised women to avoid alcohol completely. This is in line with the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and France. But in October 2008, a large-scale study was published showing no link between having the occasional drink during pregnancy and behavioural problems in the child. And GPs often advise women that one or two drinks a week will not be a problem. The National Organisation of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome said the action by the pub staff was heavy-handed. The group's founder Susan Fleisher said: 'We believe pregnant women need understanding and support to change their habits.' -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090423/769e35e6/attachment-0001.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 23 22:43:46 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 23 21:52:13 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Pregnant European women drink, right? Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090423214338.0456b578@ncf.ca> http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfmoms/detail?entry_id=37814&o=1 SFGate.com San Francisco, California The Mommy Files Pregnant European women drink, right? The British pregnant woman. She's hanging out in a pub sharing a pint with her hub, right? Isn't drinking while pregnant widely accepted throughout Europe? That has been the case in the past, but some are starting to frown upon it. A pregnant woman was recently refused a drink at a pub in England and then asked to leave by staff who said they were protecting her unborn child. [Photo] Daily Mail Pregnant Caroline Williams was ordered out of a pub in England after bar staff saw her sipping a friend's pint. Caroline Williams, 26, was with her husband and some friends at the Cricketer pub in Hove, East Sussex. "I was on a rare night out with some friends," Williams told the Daily Mail. "I had a pint of lager and a friend offered to get me another half--that was going to be my limit. He was refused service because it was for me and when I later took a sip from another friend's glass the assistant manageress asked me and my friends to leave." This story might surprise some U.S. women. Here, we often point to the habits of European women who legendarily drink wine, eat raw-milk cheese, and gulp Guinness to improve breast milk production, as justification for our own choices in pregnancy. In a recent SFGate article on drinking in pregnancy some visitors made comments suggesting it was safe to enjoy wine because the French do it. But actually more European countries are adopting (or at least trying to adopt) the American stance of abstinence. In 2007, the British government ruled against even occasional consumption during pregnancy; now American-style warning labels are slapped onto all alcohol bottles. Same thing happened in France. And in Ireland they're considering similar legislation and introducing a public awareness campaign against drinking during pregnancy. Why the change in attitude? Mainly the countries were seeing increases in fetal alcohol syndrome. The National Organization for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome UK estimated that more than 6,000 children were born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder each year. That said, in October 2008, a large-scale British study was published showing no link between having the occasional drink during pregnancy and behavioral problems in the child. And Europeans are still swilling much more wine than American women. Some 55 per cent of women in the UK admit to drinking alcohol while pregnant and 52 percent of French women indulge. In Ireland the number is even higher at an estimated 66 percent. In America, only 12 percent of pregnant women report any alcohol use. So what do you think: Was the British pub right in kicking out pregnant Caroline Williams? Could you imagine a similar scenario right here in the Bay Area? Posted By: Amy Graff (Email) | April 01 2009 at 07:33 AM Listed Under: Pregnancy/birth -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090423/f4d96596/attachment-0001.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 23 22:44:20 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 23 21:52:16 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Kids with FASD needed for program: Abbotsford, B.C. Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090423214413.0456b808@ncf.ca> http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valley/ahobserver/news/42282622.html Agassiz-Harrison Observer British Columbia News Kids with FASD needed for program Text Published: April 01, 2009 1:00 PM Updated: April 01, 2009 1:02 PM A group of kids shoot hoops together. In another corner a child tries to master Wii tennis and Dance Dance Revolution. Over to the side, another puzzles over a challenging game involving pegs and ropes. These are all fairly typical activities for school-aged children. What makes this group atypical is that all have been diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. FASD is a preventable brain injury caused by alcohol use by the mother during pregnancy that results in lifelong challenges in all areas. It's estimated that for every 1,000 births in B.C., nine infants will be affected in some way by FASD. They tend to be two or three years behind their peers in development and size, and have difficulty focusing. The children have gathered together on a Friday afternoon in an Abbotsford school gym as part of a University of the Fraser Valley project entitled Toward Exercise Intervention for Children with FASD: A Strength-Based Approach. The project, now in its second year, brings together children with FASD and UFV student workers for twice-a-week motor skill sessions. Or, as the kids see it, just plain fun and games. At "FAST Club", as they call it, the children work with UFV students at different stations where games and activities are set up to help them develop various motor skills. The stations focus on areas such as balance, upper limb development, bilateral strength, fine motor skills, and running. The UFV team pre-tests participants on a variety of different motor tasks that measure basic strength, speed, agility, and fine motor skills. They then continually retest the participants, but not just on whether they're improving at the selected tasks. They also monitor success in school and family stress levels, changes in attentional capabilities, and take physiological measurements, such as checking saliva samples to see if stress hormone levels are changing. A year into the program, the researchers are hearing positive anecdotal evidence of the benefits of a program that provides a positive and supportive environment for children with FASD. "The kids love the program," says UFV kinesiologist Alison Pritchard Orr, one of the lead researchers for the project. "They don't want to leave at the end of the session. Kids with FASD tend to be followers, and here they are getting intense, one-on-one attention from a supportive group of university students who act as positive role models. Also, they're with their peers, so they don't feel as marginalized as they often do at school. It's a safe and supportive environment for them." The UFV organizers are always looking for more children diagnosed with FASD to join the program. Free escorted taxi transportation is available to Abbotsford from Mission, Chilliwack, and other valley locations. Julie Folland, the mother of a nine-year-old girl diagnosed with FASD, echoes Pritchard Orr's statement, and says that finding any kind of healthy, enjoyable, motivating, encouraging, confidence-boosting, self-esteem enhancing and FASD-friendly program is very difficult. She travels to Abbotsford from Richmond to bring her daughter to the FAST Club. "Fun, healthy, educational programs that I am able to get her into are few and far between. This is one of the few programs she has ever been able to follow through with. It has kept her stimulated without overwhelming her, and is one of the few that she can handle and manage," says Folland. "She cannot wait to go and never wants to leave. It also helps her to build peer/social relationships in a dignified manner." The FAST Club program lasts eight weeks, after which new sessions begin with new children. Future plans for the research project could include a program that is longer in duration and includes a follow-up component where UFV students work with participating children in their homes. The home sessions would focus on helping children achieve goals, such as learning to ride a bicycle, using a "task-analysis" approach. The UFV students and alumni participating also derive great value from it. "It's a lot of fun to interact with the kids and get to know them personally," says kinesiology student Amy Hall. "It's neat to see how they progress in different ways and learn to deal with their emotions and behaviours." Project coordinator Ryan Konarski handles the day-to-day operations of FAST Club. "We really focus on motivation and teaching the student to manage behavioural issues, in addition to the motor skill development," he notes. The program is being funded through a $347,339 grant from the Victoria Foundation as part of the $10-million Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Action Fund established by the B.C. Ministry of Children and Family Development in March 2006. UFV Kinesiology professors Dr. Chris Bertram, Dr. Kathy Keiver, and Alison Pritchard Orr are working in partnership with the Fraser Valley Child Development Centre and paediatrician Dr. Sterling Clarren, a leading authority on FASD research. Alison Pritchard Orr and others involved in the program presented at the 3rd International Conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Victoria March 11 to 14. To find out about getting a child involved in this program, contact recruitment director Mina Thomas at 604-615-5744 (mina.sass@gmail.com) or project coordinator Ryan Konarski at 604-226-2266 (ryan.konarski@ufv.ca) or project director Alison Pritchard Orr at 604-504-7441 (local 4755) or (alison.pritchardorr@ufv.ca). Information is also online at www.ufv.ca/kpe/fastclub. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090423/cedd6247/attachment-0001.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 23 22:45:16 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 23 21:52:19 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Program is on the FAST track: Abbotsford Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090423214457.0456ba98@ncf.ca> Skipped content of type multipart/related-------------- next part -------------- From rosse at ncf.ca Mon Apr 27 12:43:11 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Mon Apr 27 11:53:36 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Local lawyer demanding warning labels on liquor bottles: Kenora, Ontario Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090427114301.03d6ef28@ncf.ca> http://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1509894 Miner & News Kenora, Ontario Local News Local lawyer demanding warning labels on liquor bottles Posted By Jon Thomson Updated 23 days ago [as of April 27, 2009] JON THOMPSON Miner and News Kenora lawyer Doug Keshen has launched a $1.8-billion class action lawsuit, demanding that warning labels with graphic imagery comparable to cigarette packages be added to liquor bottles to warn of the dangers of drinking while pregnant. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder has placed an enormous social and economic cost on the shoulders of society, said Keshen, and the federal government and the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, which control the production and sale of alcohol in this province, must share responsiblity for its negative impacts. With three decades of aboriginal law behind him, Keshen has spent the last seven years filling five filing drawers full of material on FASD. "Our position is that the government of Canada and the liquor control boards in the province have breeched their duty to protect and sufficiently warn its citizens of the harms inherent in consuming alcohol during pregnancy. It is not sufficient to put warning posters in restaurants or LCBOs, it has to be on the bottle, it has to be graphic." Research is mounting, he said, that even a single drink consumed while pregnant can have effects on the fetus. "My clients are intent on bringing attention to the powers that be of the damage, anguish, heartache and catastrophic consequences as well as personal tragedies that arise when a woman consumes alcohol while pregnant." Keshen was clear that any settlement reached will entirely be distributed to clients, many of whom have requested it be donated to FASD prevention, medical and diagnostic research, and family support such as summer camps. Eagle Lake First Nation and the Ojibwe Nation of Saugeen are named in the suit with Pikangikum, Lac Seul, Grassy Narrows, Whitefish Bay, and Northwest Angle #33 playing a supportive role. "I want to make it clear that this is not an issue that is exclusive to aboriginal people, I just happen to work with aboriginal people. "The fact of the matter is that there are countless numbers of white middle class and rich women who are addicted to alcohol and who drank while pregnant and who as a result produced an FAS child." ... more in today's Daily Miner and News on newsstands Article ID# 1509894 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090427/42839617/attachment.html From rosse at ncf.ca Tue Apr 28 20:27:08 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Tue Apr 28 19:53:27 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Genetics can mediate vulnerability to alcohol's effects during pregnancy Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090428192150.035d40f8@ncf.ca> http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-04/ace-gcm041509.php EurekAlert! release date: 22-Apr-2009 Contact: Chris Downing, Ph.D. chris.downing@colorado.edu 303-492-2152 University of Colorado Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research Genetics can mediate vulnerability to alcohol's effects during pregnancy Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to teratogenesis, the development of embryonic defects. The estimated incidence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), referring to a wide array of alcohol-exposure effects, is approximately one percent of live births in the US. Yet not all women who drink during pregnancy give birth to children with observable deficits. A mouse study has found that genetics may help to explain alcohol-related susceptibility and resistance. Results will be published in the July issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and are currently available at Early View. "Alcohol-related deficits include pre and/or postnatal growth retardation, craniofacial anomalies, central nervous system dysfunction, hand or finger malformations, a number of different skeletal malformations, and anomalies in a number of different organ systems, including the brain, eyes, and kidney," said Chris Downing, a research associate at the University of Colorado and corresponding author for the study. "Some women who drink during pregnancy don't give birth to children with any of these observable deficits, but later on their children develop a number of behavioral deficits including hyperactivity, attention deficits, learning problems, and deficits in impulse control," Downing added. "It is thought that these behavioral deficits are due to brain damage as result of in utero ethanol exposure, but correlating specific behavioral deficits with damage to specific brain areas is a work in progress. In addition, some women who drink during pregnancy have 'normal' children with no obvious deficits." Downing said that many factors have been shown to play a role in the development of FASD, including the amount, timing and pattern of maternal alcohol consumption, maternal age and parity, maternal ethnicity and socioeconomic status, cultural factors, maternal smoking and other drug abuse, and maternal diet/nutrition. In addition, he said, studies with humans and mice have shown that both maternal and fetal genotypes ? in conjunction with the environment ? play a role in susceptibility and resistance to the detrimental effects of in utero alcohol exposure. "Using mice, we can control for all of these confounding variables," he said. "Within an inbred strain, all mice are virtually genetically identical, greater than 99.9 percent. When one looks at more than one inbred strain of mice, and all mice are housed and treated the same, differences between strains are taken as evidence of a genetic effect." Downing and his colleagues looked at alcohol teratogenesis in five inbred strains of mice: Inbred Short-Sleep (ISS), C57BL/6J (B6), C3H/Ibg (C3H), A/Ibg (A), and 129S6/SvEvTac (129). Pregnant mice were given either 5.8 g/kg alcohol or maltose-dextrin on day nine (roughly equivalent to days 28-31 of human gestation) of pregnancy. They were subsequently sacrificed on day 18, and their fetuses examined for gross morphological malformations. The B6 mice that were exposed to alcohol in utero had fetal weight deficits, as well as digit, kidney, brain ventricle and vertebral malformation. In contrast, 129 mice showed no teratogenesis, while the remaining three strains showed varying degrees of teratogenesis. "In other words, said Downing, "certain strains were sensitive to some effects of prenatal alcohol and resistant to others. The fact that inbred strains differed showed that genetics plays a role." Downing added that these findings can be extrapolated to humans. "Since genetic effects on prenatal alcohol phenotypes in mice have been demonstrated, and the mouse and human genomes are remarkably similar, it suggests genetics plays a role in humans as well," he said. "Human researchers need to begin to systematically investigate genetic factors mediating susceptibility and resistance to the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure." ### Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research (ACER) is the official journal of the Research Society on Alcoholism and the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism. Co-authors of the ACER paper, "Ethanol Teratogenesis in Five Inbred Strains of Mice," were: Christina Balderrama-Durbin, Hali Broncucia and Thomas E. Johnson of the Institute for Behavioral Genetics at the University of Colorado; and David Gilliam of the School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado. The study was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. This release is supported by the Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network at www.attcnetwork.org. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090428/e61e06a7/attachment.html From rosse at ncf.ca Wed Apr 29 11:11:34 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Wed Apr 29 10:54:53 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Cowichan FASD experts teach 'FASD101' to Yellowknife students Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090429101126.03d3d840@ncf.ca> http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/cowichannewsleader/community/42749652.html Bringing BC?s Communities together Cowichan News Leader and Pictorial Vancouver Island, British Columbia part of bclocalnews.com Cowichan FASD experts teach 'FASD101' to Yellowknife students By Krista Siefken - Cowichan News Leader and Pictorial Published: April 09, 2009 10:00 AM Updated: April 09, 2009 10:24 AM Three Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder experts from the Cowichan Valley ? who live with FASD themselves ? recently travelled to Yellowknife to work with high school students. ?I think we really reached the school kids and that?s awesome, that?s the most important thing, because they?re future parents, the ones we hope and pray won?t drink while they?re pregnant, or while their girlfriends or wives are,? said Ro deBree, whose son Lance deBree was one of the three experts who spoke during the high school presentations. Lance, along with fellow experts Leila Wilson and Matthew Pakozdy, travelled with Ro and Jen Kyffin to Yellowknife, where they taught ?FASD101? at two high schools and during two community workshops. ?(Lance, Wilson and Pakozdy) are able to connect with the kids much more than any of us would ? they can say, ?This is how it is,? and the kids hear that and know it?s authentic,? said Ro. The group was invited to speak in the Northwest Territories by the Yellowknife Association for Community Living after one of its members saw the group present during a national FASD conference in Vancouver last spring. ?We were there to help the kids,? added Ro. ?And we had a great time.? To learn more about FASD and ways to prevent it, contact the Cowichan Valley FASD Action Team Society at 250-748-0236. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090429/076ce50e/attachment.html From rosse at ncf.ca Wed Apr 29 10:33:28 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 30 10:53:35 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Program in works for drug-addicted prisoners: Manitoba Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090429103320.01e93e08@ncf.ca> [No mention of alcohol. Can we assume these voluntary drug-treatment programs are not for alcohol?] "...The province estimates 71 per cent of offenders in provincial custody are substance abusers, yet those on remand have little or no access to drug-treatment programs. Only after sentencing is counselling or treatment made more readily available...." http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/program-in-works-for-drug-addicted-prisoners-43759717.html Winnipeg Free Press Local News Program in works for drug-addicted prisoners By: Bruce Owen 27/04/2009 1:00 AM [Photo] MIKE APORIUS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES Justice Minister Dave Chomiak The province is looking at expanding voluntary drug-treatment programs in Manitoba jails to address the high number of offenders who have substance-abuse problems. Justice Minister Dave Chomiak said such a program will focus on inmates on remand to help reduce the high number of people in pre-trial detention. He said it will also help address the expected higher number of prisoners going through the courts should the Harper government follow through on its pledge to eliminate two-for-one sentencing credits for time served in pre-trial detention. Chomiak said in an interview that details of a such a program were still being worked out, but added it might involve giving an inmate a credit on sentencing. More than two-thirds of Manitoba's current inmate population in provincial jails are serving remand time. As of last Wednesday there were 1,998 adults and youth in custody. Of those, 605 were sentenced (30 per cent) while 1,393 are on remand (70 per cent). The province estimates 71 per cent of offenders in provincial custody are substance abusers, yet those on remand have little or no access to drug-treatment programs. Only after sentencing is counselling or treatment made more readily available. Tory justice critic Kelvin Goertzen said the province should look at what Illinois is doing at its Sheridan Correctional Center. It opened more than four years ago as the largest fully dedicated state drug prison in the United States. It focuses on treating substance abuse to reduce high recidivism rates common among offenders who abuse drugs. Illinois Department of Corrections statistics show that approximately 60 per cent of all male arrestees statewide and approximately 82 per cent of all male arrestees in Chicago test positive for at least one illegal drug. In addition, nearly 25 per cent of all state prison inmates are currently serving time for drug offences, while many others are in prison for property offences, violent offences or other crimes committed as a result of drug involvement. Goertzen said Manitoba has one of the highest recidivism rates in Canada, particularly among young offenders. Provincial statistics indicate about two-thirds of inmates released from Manitoba jails since 2001 were charged with another crime within two years of their release. Manitoba Corrections tracks reoffend rates for adult offenders coming out of provincial jails in Headingley, Dauphin, Brandon, The Pas, Milner Ridge and Portage la Prairie. They found that between January 2001 and June 2005, an average of 67 per cent of inmates released from those correctional centres were arrested and charged with a new offence within two years. The youth recidivism rate is about 85 per cent. Chomiak said the province is willing to examine the program at Sheridan to see if it has any fit in Manitoba. bruce.owen@freepress.mb.ca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090429/c78d9000/attachment-0001.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 30 10:05:49 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 30 14:54:16 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Improving addictions services for women and their children Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090430100541.01e3f340@ncf.ca> "...At least 24,000 Canadians under the age of 21 have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder...." "...collaboration with researchers across Canada, including the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the University of Toronto, the University of Western Ontario, and the University of British Columbia...." http://dailynews.mcmaster.ca/story.cfm?id=6116 McMaster Daily News McMaster University Hamilton, Ontario Improving addictions services for women and their children by FHS Advancement April 28, 2009 [Photo] Pictured from L to R: Wendy Sword, associate professor in the School of Nursing, Alison Niccols, associate professor from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, and Maureen Dobbins, associate professor in the School of Nursing. Photo courtesy of FHS. A better understanding of how best to share knowledge between researchers and those who work with women with substance use issues is the focus of Connections, a program of research being led by researchers at McMaster University and McMaster Children's Hospital. This is the first program of research of its kind in the area of women with substance use issues and their children. This research is particularly timely given substance use during pregnancy has been identified as a public health concern. At least 24,000 Canadians under the age of 21 have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Maternal use of alcohol and other drugs can have profound effects on child health and development. Many women who continue to abuse substances after childbirth have challenging life circumstances, including lack of affordable housing, diminished capacity for parenting, and difficulties providing stable, nurturing environments for their children. The program was launched yesterday at a special event at the University Club. Alison Niccols, associate professor from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, along with Wendy Sword and Maureen Dobbins, associate professors in the School of Nursing, are co-leading this $1.4 million five-year program of research. Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), it involves collaboration with researchers across Canada, including the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the University of Toronto, the University of Western Ontario, and the University of British Columbia. The primary goals of Connections are to identify the needs and preferences for receiving research evidence among decision makers and clinicians working with women with substance use issues in almost 800 addictions agencies in Canada and to use this information to develop, implement and evaluate knowledge translation and exchange strategies. Niccols said that findings will help improve services, reduce costs (in terms of crime, unemployment, neonatal intensive care, etc.), and ultimately improve the health of a vulnerable, marginalized population of women and children at high risk for poor outcomes. "The Canadian Institutes of Health Research is proud to fund a program that will share the findings of researchers with those who work directly in the community," said Dr. Anthony Phillips, Scientific Director from the CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction. "Connections stands out as an innovative program and encourages the use of research to fight addiction and improve the health of Canadians." -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090430/66022087/attachment.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 30 10:38:19 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 30 14:54:47 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Local lawyer files $1.8 billion class action lawsuit: Kenora Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090430103811.03a4df88@ncf.ca> [This article is 2 paragraphs longer than the one in the Kenora Daily Miner posted earlier. See the names of individuals "affected by the gears of FASD in Kenora" The last paragraph gives the rationale for the lawsuit] "...This is not a matter of putting the responsibility on government for mothers drinking, he explained. Saying his clients want to be ?part of approaches to a solution,? he is looking to take the responsibility for healthy alcohol consumption off of government and into the community. ?It?s not just faulting governments,? he explained. ?It?s a wakeup call to families and communities that they have to take responsibility for their own actions and the results of those actions There is a fiduciary obligation. Health Canada puts warning labels on so many products, pharmaceutical products, cigarettes. Why have they held back on the one that has caused the most devastation, which is alcohol?? http://www.lotwenterprise.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1518044 Lake of the Woods Enterprise Lake of the Woods, Ontario Local news Local lawyer files $1.8 billion class action lawsuit Demands labels be placed on liquor bottles warning women of the dangers of drinking while pregnant Posted By Jon Thompson Posted 17 days ago [as of April 30, 2009] Kenora lawyer Doug Keshen has served the federal government and the Liquor Control Board of Ontario with a $1.8 billion lawsuit, demanding that labels be placed on liquor bottles warning women of the dangers of drinking while pregnant. He said his clients have seen the enormous social and economic cost Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder or FASD has placed on the shoulders of society and are looking to put the responsibility into the hands of the public to stem the suffering. With three decades of Aboriginal law behind him, Keshen has spent the last seven years raking together five filing drawers full of material on FASD. ?Our position is that the government of Canada and the liquor control boards in the province have breeched their duty to protect and sufficiently warn its citizens of the harms inherent in consuming alcohol during pregnancy. It is not sufficient to put warning posters in restaurants or LCBOs, it has to be on the bottle, it has to be graphic.? Research is mounting, he said, that even a single drink consumed while pregnant can have effects on the fetus. ?My clients are intent on bringing attention to the powers that be of the damage, anguish, heartache, and catastrophic consequences as well as personal tragedies that arise when a woman consumes alcohol while pregnant.? Keshen was clear that any settlement reached will entirely be distributed to clients, many of whom have requested it be donated to FASD prevention, medical and diagnostic research, and family support such as summer camps. Eagle Lake First Nation and the Ojibwe Nation of Saugeen are named in the suit with Pikangikum, Lac Seul, Grassy Narrows, Whitefish Bay, and Northwest Angle #33 playing a supportive role. ?I want to make it clear that this is not an issue that is exclusive to Aboriginal people, I just happen to work with Aboriginal people. The fact of the matter is that there are countless numbers of white middle class and rich women who are addicted to alcohol and who drank while pregnant and who as a result produced an FAS child.? Keshen has been consulting with those who are affected by the gears of FASD in Kenora from Calvin Skead, Louis Cameron and Tommy Keesick at the street level to psychologists Dr. Laurence Hunt, Dr. Peter Hettinga, KACL?s Jim Retson, and pediatrician Dr. Peter Harland, who he said ?work tirelessly? to support those living with the disorder. This is not a matter of putting the responsibility on government for mothers drinking, he explained. Saying his clients want to be ?part of approaches to a solution,? he is looking to take the responsibility for healthy alcohol consumption off of government and into the community. ?It?s not just faulting governments,? he explained. ?It?s a wakeup call to families and communities that they have to take responsibility for their own actions and the results of those actions There is a fiduciary obligation. Health Canada puts warning labels on so many products, pharmaceutical products, cigarettes. Why have they held back on the one that has caused the most devastation, which is alcohol?? Article ID# 1518044 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090430/79a2fe43/attachment.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 30 11:33:15 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 30 15:54:28 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Ladettes risk health to keep up with boys: Australia Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090430113307.04203078@ncf.ca> [dictionary: ladette la'det - Usage: UK (informal) a young woman that behaves like a lad: being loud, drinking heavily, sleeping around, etc.] "...The National Association for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Related Disorders has warned that binge drinking among young women could increase the number of children born with birth defects...." http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25352067-661,00.html Herald Sun Melbourne, Australia Ladettes risk health to keep up with boys Stephen Drill April 19, 2009 12:00am YOUNG women are hitting Melbourne's clubs and pubs on a mission to match their male friends in the drinking stakes. Many drunken young women were on city streets this weekend amid the emergence of a new "ladette" culture. The Sunday Herald Sun found women out to take the title of "best-on-ground", or most drunk person among their friends. Random breath tests on more than 30 people on Friday night and Saturday morning showed that, in many cases, women had twice as much alcohol in their blood as the men they were drinking with. The highest blood alcohol reading, as measured on a Draeger Safety Pacific breathalyser, was a woman who recorded 0.196. The highest male reading was 0.062, while one of his female friends, who said she had drunk the same amount of alcohol, blew 0.159. This week, Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett's 19-year-old daughter, Grace, was treated for alcohol poisoning after being found unconscious on the floor of a hotel bathroom. On Friday, Mr Garrett said he and Grace had discussed her mistake. In Melbourne, girls who looked in their early teens wandered down Swanston St at 2am Saturday. One woman, who had turned 18 on Thursday, boasted she had consumed more than 17 standard drinks before getting into a taxi about 3am. She bore scars from having smashed a glass on her elbow. "I had three drinks in my hand most of the night," she said. Another woman, who asked to be breathalysed because she wanted to know if she could drive, blew 0.146 -- almost three times the legal limit. Many young women said they saw no problem with their drinking. They argued that men drank to excess, so they could too. Lord Mayor Robert Doyle was on the streets on Friday night to see first-hand the devastating effects of alcohol. Mr Doyle said young women who drank too much were putting their safety at risk, citing concerns over date rape. "I saw a girl who was about 13 or 14 years old walking by herself down Swanston St. Where do the parents think they are?" he said. Australia has gained a reputation as a heavy-drinking nation. Channel 9's series of Ladette to Lady featured wild Australian girls being taught how to be prim and proper. Scenes included contestants dropping underwear to urinate in a street, drinking heavily and taking their clothes off at parties. Social demographer Bernard Salt said generation Y women had been "empowered" to be equal to men in all areas of life, including drinking. "A culture has evolved of shouting drinks and that women can have an equal drinking habit," he said. The downside was that women generally weighed less than men, so they were more affected by alcohol consumed, he added. Mr Salt said women were drinking excessively for more years than women in past generations because most delayed marriage until they were about 30. The change had created a new "tribal culture" between the sexes, where women played as hard as their male mates, he said. The National Association for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Related Disorders has warned that binge drinking among young women could increase the number of children born with birth defects. Spokeswoman Sue Miers said many women might be harming their unborn children. VicHealth chief executive Todd Harper said the number of alcohol-affected people arriving at Victorian hospitals had jumped by a third in the past five years -- and young women were driving that trend. He said the Federal Government's alcopops tax, to be voted on again next month, should be extended to reduce drinking among young women. Australian Drug Foundation chief Geoff Munro urged Family First Senator Steve Fielding, who holds the balance of power, to support the alcopops tax next month. "Alcopops introduce teenagers to spirits," he said. Meanwhile, police have called for witnesses after a man was kicked in the head at least six times outside the BVLD bar in Queensbridge St, Southbank, at 2.45am Saturday. The man, who was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, suffered a broken nose and cheekbone in the attack. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090430/342d7c54/attachment-0001.html From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Apr 30 11:38:59 2009 From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross) Date: Thu Apr 30 15:54:58 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] School help for children of drinkers: U.K. Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090430113852.01eb5e40@ncf.ca> http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/apr/19/foetal-alcohol-spectrum-school-support guardian.co.uk The Observer U.K. News - Society - Alcohol School help for children of drinkers Amelia Hill, social affairs correspondent The Observer, Sunday 19 April 2009 Children with brain damage caused by their mothers drinking while pregnant are to get special help at school. More than 6,000 children are born each year with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) - a range of physical, behavioural and cognitive disabilities, including permanent brain injury, learning difficulties, poor co-ordination and hyperactivity. The Training and Development Agency, which is responsible for the training and development of the school workforce, is offering ?50,000 for a research project on how learning is affected by the disorder. The project will develop practical resources for teachers to support children in both primary and secondary schools. "FASD presents challenges for teachers and other professionals that may require innovative approaches to education," a spokesman for the agency said. Last May the government began to advise total abstinence in pregnancy. But at around the same time the NHS advisory body, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, suggested that mothers could drink small amounts. As binge drinking rises, so will FASD, says Teresa Whitehurst of the Sunfield Research Institute, which has worked on FASD in Worcestershire schools. This week the National Organisation on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome-UK, a group dedicated to raising public awareness in Britain about the risks of maternal drinking, is holding a conference to address the link between FASD and illegal and antisocial behaviour. "There is no way to know for sure how alcohol might affect each individual unborn baby," said Susan Fleisher, executive director of Nofas-UK. "The only thing we know for sure is that FASD is 100% preventable if mothers abstain from drinking during pregnancy." ? This article was amended on Sunday April 26 2009. We described the National Organisation on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome-UK as "the only group in Britain dedicated to raising public awareness about the risks of maternal drinking ... " but we should record that FASaware.co.uk, founded in 1999 by Gloria Armistead, is another such organisation that advised no drinking in any stage of pregnancy last year. This has been corrected. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090430/984a31cd/attachment.html From alcoholbabies at gmail.com Wed Apr 29 16:22:52 2009 From: alcoholbabies at gmail.com (Communications coordinator) Date: Fri May 1 13:54:38 2009 Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Potential research topic Message-ID: <51535ff30904291322l729e7352u7fb6bda93d3c41d5@mail.gmail.com> The following is a possible topic for FASD research: There are many anecdotal records of FASD individuals' unusual odour. Research on this topic could provide a quick and definite screening tool to identify affected persons. Technology exists to perform this research. Interested parties please contact: J. Rinker Co-Chair Alcohol Babies Anonymous -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/fasd_canadian_link/attachments/20090429/55c48d21/attachment.html