37% of babies
have been exposed to multiple episodes of binge drinking
(5+ drinks per session) during pregnancy. An additional
42% have been multiply exposed to 1 to 4 drinks per
session during pregnancy. It is probable that about 15% of children
are significantly enough affected by prenatal alcohol
exposure to require special education.
FASD presentation by Bruce Ritchie.
If you have the PowerPoint Viewer on your computer,
simply click on Open in the next screen.
If not, you can Download
PowerPoint 2007 Viewer (Works with Windows 2000,
XP and Vista)
"It is estimated that up to 20% of women
consume alcohol regularly while pregnant". Meconium
is the first fecal excretion from the newborn baby.
GC/MS Meconium assays can detect Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters
that act as a biomarker of maternal alcohol consumption
during the final 20 weeks of pregnancy. Studies by United
States Drug Testing Laboratories using the Avitar MecStat-ETOH meconium
testing for FAEE's that have shown 15% to 18% of
newborns have been exposed to significant levels of
alcohol in the final 20 weeks with 4% having been exposed
to very high levels of alcohol. "Neonatal Screening
for Prenatal Alcohol Exposure - The Grey Bruce Study"
by Joey Gareri, HBSc, MSc student confirms that 4% of
infants were exposed to very high levels. The lower
level incidence was not reported. See also "Fatty Acid Ethyl
Esters in meconium: An emerging biomarker for in utero
alcohol exposure". - Joey Gareri, Graduate Student,
Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto.
Dr. Bhushan Kapur.
Methanol in small amounts is present along with ethanol
in beverage alcohol. The body's natural enzymes preferentially
metabolize ethanol while methanol breaks down into highly
neurotoxic Formic Acid. Use of high levels of
Folic Acid was found to inhibit brain damage caused by
the methanol. The use of Folic Acid during pregnancy
has been recommended for several years to prevent neural
tube defects. However, this study indicates that even
higher levels of Folic Acid can be very benifical to the
developing baby, particularly where alcohol exposure is
a factor. Folic Acid is mandated as an additive to all
flour sold in Canada. The debate has begun on its required
addition to all beverage alcohol to help mitigate damage
caused to both infants and adults.
Research Investigating
Effects of Alcohol and Developing Brain Cells
Even brief exposures to small amounts of alcohol may kill
brain cells in a developing fetus. A study carried out
by John Olney, M.D., at the Washington School of Medicine
in St. Louis showed that just two drinks consumed during
pregnancy may be enough to kill some developing brain
cells, leading to permanent brain damage. Nerve cells
will die if they fail to make synaptic connections in
time. Drinking alcohol can interfere with the formation
of these connections. Addiction Biology 2004 Jun;9(2):137-49
Twitches that indicate
alcohol may hurt baby - Jonathon Carr-Brown and Martyn
Halle
Video of ultrasound image. Just one glass of wine a week
can make babies jump in the womb throughout a nine-month
pregnancy. The Sunday Times - Britain - November 20, 2005
The amount of death
and disability caused by alcohol globally is similar to
that caused by tobacco and high blood pressure, concludes
a review in this week's issue of The Lancet. Overall,
four percent of the global burden of disease is attributable
to alcohol, 4•1% to tobacco and 4•4% to high blood pressure.
Alcohol is causally related to more than 60 different
medical conditions, including breast cancer and coronary
heart disease. In most cases alcohol has a detrimental
effect on health.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Author and former pediatric nurse, Linda Checky, BSN,
RN, MBA, is the Assistant Program Manager for TCHP Education
Consortium.
Excellent teaching
tool for professionals. 25 pages. Continuing Education
This learning activity has been designed to meet the Minnesota
Board of Nursing continuing education requirements. A
total of two and one-half (2.5) contact hours may be obtained
by completing this independent learning program. (PDF
format)
M.F. Murphy -
The FAS/FAE child is not a hopeless case, he/she is simply
a nowhere child, never quite fitting into any setting.
The children already in our schools and the ones that
are yet to arrive can learn and we need to offer them
an environment and educational program which will insure
that they do learn.
by Edward M. Hallowell,
M.D.
Attention Deficit Disorder. First of all I resent the
term. As far as I'm concerned most people have Attention
Surplus Disorder. I mean, life being what it is, who can
pay attention to anything for very long?
by Edward M. Hallowell,
M.D. and John J. Ratey, M.D.
The most important step at the beginning of treatment
is to instill hope once again. Individuals with ADD may
have forgotten what is good about themselves.
From birth, a baby's brain cells proliferate wildly,
making connections that may shape a lifetime of experience.
The first three years are critical. - J. Madelaine Nash
Peggy Seo Oba's extensive study of the
history
of FASD. From antiquity to present times, alcohol
consumption during pregnancy has been known to affect
the baby. Why has it only been relatively recently that
it has been given a name?
Original and most up-to-date:
Adaptations to
the fetal environment, which result in low birth weight,
also program physiological and harmful changes in the
adult. Cardiac malformations exist in children with fetal
alcohol syndrome and animal models of prenatal alcohol
exposure, and an enlarged heart (cardiac hypertrophy)
has been found in children with fetal alcohol syndrome.
The high incidence of heart defects indicates that alcoholism
during pregnancy has to be considered as a serious and
preventable cause of congenital heart disease.
Source: July
2003 edition of the American Journal of Physiology Endocrinology
and Metabolism
The FASlink Archives
are a searchable collection of more than 110,000 FASD
related letters and articles. FASlink is a listserv
Moderated by Bruce Ritchie. Members include biological,
foster and adoptive parents and caregivers as well as
a wide range of professionals including those in medicine,
social work, education and justice. Our members also
include a number of individuals who have FASD. They
help us to see the world through their eyes, so that
we can develop more effective strategies to help our
children and others. FASlink's character has developed into
a very supportive "family". It is a unique experience.
KINGSTON, Ont.
A simple test that measures eye movement may help to identify
children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and
ultimately lead to improved treatment for the condition,
say Queen's University researchers.
Recent MRI studies by Dr. Anne
Streissguth comparing structural anomalies in the corpus
callosa of FAS vs FAE individuals have shown the same
level of brain injury, regardless of "facial markers".
Over time, the facial markers of FAS may fall into the
same disuse as Phrenology. FAS facial features are not
fully reliable indicators of the nature and level of
disabilities. This research could completely change
the definitions of FAS, FAE, ARND, FASD, etc.
"Although we hypothesized that our image
analysis methods would reveal significant mean differences
in brain form between FAS/FAE and Controls, we were
surprised to find that the most significant finding
was a hypervariation of form of the Corpus Callosum
(CC: a white matter pathway connecting the two hemispheres
of the brain). Subjects with FAS and FAE had callosa
that were generally thicker or thinner than control
counterparts. In addition 3 of the subjects with FAS/FAE
showed frank dysgenesis (incomplete development) of
the corpus callosum. This study also found that there
was a complete intermingling of (lack of discrimination
between) the alcohol exposed subjects with and without
the facial features of FAS in terms of representations
of the shape of the CC. There was no difference
in CC neuroanatomy between subjects with FAS and those
with FAE or ARND."
"When the shape measurement of the Corpus
Callosum was combined with results of neuropsychological
testing, we found further surprising results. The variation
in the shape of the corpus callosum was related to two
specific patterns of neuropsychological performance.
Those subjects with FAS/FAE whose callosa were thinner
than controls demonstrated deficits in motor coordination
but had relatively normal executive function abilities.
Conversely, those subjects with FAS/FAE whose callosa
were thicker than controls demonstrated relatively normal
motor coordination but had deficits in executive function
abilities." - Dr. Ann Streissguth, Principle Investigator
This statement
describes the diagnosis of FAS, partial or atypical FAS,
alcohol-related birth defects and alcohol-related neurodevelopmental
disorder. Strategies for early identification of possible
alcohol-related abnormalities are outlined.
There is a growing body of research
data describing the teratogenic effects of alcohol on
central nervous system function and physical development,
the diversity of children with prenatal alcohol exposure
and their families, and the developmental and behavioral
characteristics of this clinical population. This article
reviews the latest research evidence, bearing in mind
what is important to early intervention. This article
also gives practical guidance on FASD prevention, methods
for early screening, and referral of young children
for diagnosis of FASD (and referral for needed services
once diagnosed), and how to provide education, support,
advocacy assistance, and anticipatory guidance for families
raising children with FASD. Key words: early diagnosis
and intervention, fetal alcohol syndrome, alcohol-induced
disorders (nervous systems), maternal exposure, teratogen
Research Report:
Health professionals' knowledge, practice and opinions
about fetal alcohol syndrome and alcohol consumption in
pregnancy.
Results: Of 1,143 health professionals,
12% identified all four essential diagnostic features
of FAS. Most (95%) had never diagnosed FAS. Although 82%
believed that making a diagnosis of FAS might improve
treatment plans and 85% agreed FAS was preventable, 53%
said the diagnosis might be stigmatising. Only 2% felt
very prepared to deal with FAS and most wanted information
for themselves and their clients. Of the 659 health professionals
caring for pregnant women, only 45% routinely ask about
alcohol use in pregnancy, only 25% routinely provide information
on the consequences of alcohol use in pregnancy and only
13% provide advice consistent with NHMRC guidelines on
alcohol consumption in pregnancy.
Because most people with FASD have no
visible signs of alcohol exposure, their problems may
be wrongly blamed on poor parenting or on other disorders.
Early diagnosis and intervention contribute to positive
long-term outcomes. The Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Center for Excellence
is a project of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Written by the
Follow Along Subcommittee of The Perinatal and Addiction
Task Force of The Children's Hospital of Buffalo and New
York State Division of Substance Abuse Services
Frequency of drinking 5
or more drinks on one occasion in the last 12 months,
by age group and sex, household population aged 12 and
over who are current drinkers, Canada, 2000/01. Data
source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health
Survey, 2000/01. The definition of binge drinking in
Canada has now been changed to 4 drinks
per occasion.
Understanding
Blood Alcohol Level. Blood alcohol level (BAL) refers
to the ratio of alcohol to blood in the bloodstream. It
also accurately reflects the level of alcohol in the entire
body. BAL, also known as blood alcohol concentration (BAC),
is represented as a percentage.
The Disease of Alcoholism-Defined
& Explained. Alcoholism is a chemical/biological disease
that is primary, progressive, chronic and fatal. It is
characterized by an obsession to drink that makes it impossible
to predict when we will start drinking, and an allergy
to alcohol, which makes it impossible to predict when
we will stop drinking.
The prevalence
of alcohol and illicit drug dependence is estimated. Relationships
between alcohol and illicit drug use and depression are
analyzed. Full
article in PDF format - Supplement to Health Reports,
Volume 15, 2004 - Statistics Canada, Catalogue 82-003
Even though alcoholism and
drug addiction are clearly defined as disabilities under
Ontario’s Human Rights Code, thousands of Ontarians
have been denied disability benefits for substance abuse
addictions. That has now changed following a Supreme
Court of Canada ruling establishing that addiction is
a disability under Canadian law.
Alcohol is a general term denoting a
family of organic chemicals with common properties.
Members of this family include ethanol, methanol, isopropanol,
and others. This introduction discusses the physical,
chemical, and physiological aspects of the most commonly
ingested of these - ethanol. Alcohol is a central nervous
system depressant and it is the central nervous system
which is the bodily system that is most severely affected
by alcohol (see chart below). The degree to which the
central nervous system function is impaired is directly
proportional to the concentration
of alcohol in the blood.
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Mounting
evidence shows that the still-maturing teenage brain
is particularly susceptible to damage from heavy drinking.
A number of recent studies have shown that teenagers
who abuse alcohol have problems with memory, learning
and other brain functions compared with their peers,
while animal research suggests such effects could last
into adulthood. Original
article
Although it is
difficult to say how many children in Europe have FAS
or even FAE...one of the ways you can determine the prevalence
of alcohol consumption among women and the seriousness
of it is to look at the deaths due to alcohol related
illnesses. by Peggy Seo Oba
Women in early
pregnancy, and even those who are considering becoming
pregnant should cut out cocktails, wine and beer completely,
according to the results of a preliminary study on animals.
-- with comments by Teresa Kellerman
and Bruce Ritchie
To determine the alcohol consumption
patterns among all women of childbearing age, including
those who are pregnant or might become pregnant, CDC
analyzed data for women aged 18--44 years from the 2002
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey
(5). The results of that analysis indicated that approximately
10% of pregnant women used alcohol, and approximately
2% engaged in binge drinking or frequent use of alcohol.
The results further indicated that more than half of
women who did not use birth control (and therefore might
become pregnant) reported alcohol use and 12.4% reported
binge drinking.
Meconium Testing - comments by Bruce Ritchie Meconium is the first bowel movement by a newborn
infant. The meconium based assay incorporates a panel
of Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters as bio-markers of maternal
alcohol use during the last 20 weeks of pregnancy. Studies
with the MecStat-EtOH assay (Avitar Technologies Inc.,
United States Drug Testing Laboratories) found fetal
exposure to alcohol in 15-18% of newborns
tested, approximately 4% of the newborns
had elevated results. These results do not include those
women who were drinking in the first trimester and quit
when they discovered they were pregnant. People lie
about their alcohol use.
Alcohol: Global Burden on Health Similar
to Tobacco and High Blood Pressure
04 Feb 2005
The amount of death and disability
caused by alcohol globally is similar to that caused
by tobacco and high blood pressure, concludes a review
in The Lancet (Vol. 365 No. 9458, Feb. 5, 2005). Overall,
four percent of the global burden of disease is attributable
to alcohol, 4.1% to tobacco and 4.4% to high blood pressure.
Alcohol is causally related to more than 60 different
medical conditions, including breast cancer and coronary
heart disease. In most cases alcohol has a detrimental
effect on health.
This volume is the culmination of three
years of dedicated collaborative work of the WHO Department
of Mental Health and Substance Abuse and a WHO Collaborating
Centre, the Swiss Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol
and Drug Problems in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is an
overview of the available data on alcohol consumption
and drinking patterns worldwide. It gives valuable new
perspectives on the recent status of health and social
consequences of alcohol use and levels and patterns
of alcohol consumption worldwide. WHO_global_alcohol_status_report_2004.pdf
As of February
1, 2005, the Liquor Licence Act requires certain premises
to post signs warning women that drinking alcohol during
pregnancy can cause Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. The
warning sign must be at least 8 by 10 inches in size.
It must be prominently displayed in all locations where
beverage alcohol is sold or where customers brew their
own wine or beer for take home consumption. Failure to
comply with the signage requirements is an offence under
the Liquor Licence Act.
The following types of premises must
post the warning sign:
Restaurants and bars
licensed to sell beverage alcohol (wine, beer and
spirits);
LCBO stores and other
retail stores authorized to sell beverage alcohol
(i.e., The Beer Store and wine, beer and spirits manufacturers’
stores); and
Licensed brew-on-premise
facilities.
This document provides the mandatory English sign
referred to in Regulation 718, Subsection 26.1(1).
The sign can be displayed in colour or black and white.
A French sign may also be displayed in colour or in
black and white.
To download the warning sign, please click on one
of the links below:
Submission February 25, 2005 to the
Beverage Alcohol System Review Panel by the following
Ontario public health organizations: Addictions Ontario
(AO); Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa);
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH); Mothers
Against Drunk Driving (MADD Canada); Ontario Drug Awareness
Partnership (ODAP); Ontario Public Health Association
(OPHA); Parent Action on Drugs (PAD); Toronto Public
Health.
Alcohol is a drug that causes about
as much harm as tobaco. It is linked to more than 60
medical conditions and imposes a heavy burden on public
health and finances. Alcohol should not be sold as an
ordinary commodity. Recent public discourse on alcohol
has focused on increasing government revenues and has
largely overlooked public health impacts. Public health
and safety issues deserve to be at the forefront in
a balanced review of beverage alcohol policy. The Ontario
review should, as a guiding principle, seek to improve,
not mortgage, public health and safety. Alcohol policy
research has come of age, and now provides governments
a toolkit of policy options that research show to be
effective in reducing alcohol-related problems. Policies
that increase alcohol consumption generally lead to
higher levels of public harm, while policies that decrease
consumption reduce harm. Relying on public education
and persuasion alone is not effective in reducing alcohol-related
harm. Among the most effective policies to reduce alcohol
problems are:
maintaining public alcohol
retail monopolies with a strong duty of social responsibility,
and
1870s: Canada is
in economic depression, but alcohol is a flourishing industry.
Toronto has approximately one bar for every 150 residents
and Montreal boasts a bar per 70 citizens. They sell Caribbean
rum and locally brewed whisky for high profits. Drink
becomes responsible for acts of disorderly conduct, and
city jailhouses fill with people charges with intemperance,
the act of excessive drinking.......
As the new generation
of political leaders in Washington, state capitals and
city halls grapples with America's collapsing judicial
systems, rising medical costs, persistent poverty amid
plenty and the defiant federal budget deficit that looms
over future generations, they confront the same 800pound
gorilla: drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse and addiction.
The sooner these leaders see how substance abuse has fundamentally
changed the nature of the pressing social and economic
problems they face, the sooner they'll deal with them
effectively.
Alcohol consumption
during pregnancy is a negative externality with costs
that reach into everyone's pocket. A woman's drinking
while pregnant can cause far-reaching and costly problems
for her developing baby. An externality is defined as
the uncompensated impact of one person's actions on the
well-being of a bystander. Drinking during pregnancy is
a negative externality because the woman's action has
detrimental effects on her unborn child that last a lifetime.
Proposal for An
Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program. This report summarizes
recent information on alcohol consumption and its effect
on individuals and communities. It describes the variety
of programs and activities underway and suggests a new
approach and related initiatives to reduce alcohol consumption
to a level of minimal risk.
Causes of Death
1992 (Minister of Industry, Science and Technology, Statistics
Canada, Health Statistics Division, Sept. 1994); and,
Method of Commiting Homicide Offences, Canadian the Provinces/Territories,
1992 (Minister of Industry, Science and Technology, Statistics
Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, 1992)
Indepth:
Prohibition
A timeline of prohibition and liquor legislation in
Canada
CBC News Online | June 30, 2005
1870s: Canada is
in economic depression, but alcohol is a flourishing industry.
Toronto has approximately one bar for every 150 residents
and Montreal boasts a bar per 70 citizens. They sell Caribbean
rum and locally brewed whisky for high profits. Drink
becomes responsible for acts of disorderly conduct, and
city jailhouses fill with people charges with intemperance,
the act of excessive drinking. More
...
Both separately
and in concert, smoking and drinking cause harm to the
brain -- bad news for the majority of alcoholics who
also smoke. Original
article
This Adobe PDF format booklet is designed
for caregivers and professionals who, in their everyday
lives, encounter children and youth affected by Fetal
Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Readers should be aware that
this Booklet provides strategies and suggestions for
people who already have a base understanding of FASD.
If you would like more information on FASD, please visit
www.region6fasd.ca.
Why can't they
control their impulses? That is the part I don't understand.
If they can understand why can't they control it. I don't
understand.
Fact: John understands the
rules
Fact: John understands the consequences.
Fact: John goes ahead and does it anyway (AGAIN).
Fact: John can later relate the exact rules and consequences.
Fact: Mom emits a long sigh.
Fact: John still cannot control his behaviors MUCH of
the time.
VON Canada
Eastern Region is pleased to announce the release of Let's
Talk FASD :Parent-Driven Strategies in Caring for Children
and Adults with FASD. This resource is the result of a
four-year project funded by the Public Health Agency of
Canada (PHAC)
Original document at
Having a child
with special needs is a constant, never-ending series
of challenges - emotional, financial and physical, and
the stress can easily overwhelm even the strongest and
most positive individuals. There are a number of strategies
that you can employ to help you cope with the never-ending
roller coaster ride, which can help to preserve your relationship,
make it stronger, and help keep your life in balance.
Original
article
Maternal alcohol consumption even at
low levels adversely related to child behavior. The
effect was observed at average exposure levels as low
as 1 drink per week.
What could churches / religious organizations
do to help families affected by FASD?
How do you teach abstract spiritual ideas to people
with FASD?
What could churches / religious organizations do to
help families affected by FASD? Original
documents
When I go out to
relax at a restaurant, I don't want to hear screaming,
see running around etc. If I want to listen to kids I
go to McDonalds. In a good restaurant I expect children
to behave.
A wonderful website
by Terri Mauro on Parenting. Humor and help for adoptive
moms, special-needs moms, any old moms at all. Excellent
article on behavior plan for FASD FAS/FAE children. Their
Home
Page
Children come
into this world helpless and unable to thrive without
us. Our job is to love and nurture them and to teach them
how to live. Discipline means "to teach and train". We
need to be good disciplinarians, to acquire skills that
will accomplish the goal we set for ourselves - that of
helping the child learn to control and set standards for
himself.
Many individuals
with FASD have great difficulty controlling their temper.
Lack of impulse control and inability to predict consequences
can quickly escalate to a rage when they are frustrated
about something. This article is from some notes taken
from a discussion on weapons on the FASlink Forum.
When Marmaduke,
the Great Dane, was brought for rescue adoption to my
house he was sixteen months old with a history of having
bitten three times. He had had his reasons. Violence usually
has its reasons. But violence also has a heavy price tag.
In the case of Marmaduke it almost cost him his life,
and it did cost him his original home. Everyone had told
the original owner that the Long Island dog would legally
have to be put to sleep (executed). The owner, however,
was certain there had to be an alternative. I was that
alternative. Which is how and why, to avoid having to
be executed, Marmaduke was brought to me in Connecticut.
Attention Deficit
Disorder. First of all I resent the term. As far as I'm
concerned most people have Attention Surplus Disorder.
I mean, life being what it is, who can pay attention to
anything for very long?
The most important
step at the beginning of treatment is to instill hope
once again. Individuals with ADD may have forgotten what
is good about themselves.
The problem: The student consistently
neglects to hand in homework or long-term projects, even
though she claims to have completed the work.
The reason: Children with AD/HD have difficulty keeping
track of bits of information. They have a problem keeping
track of paperwork.
The 2 papers in this section review
the etiology and treatment of conduct disorder (CD),
one of the most common disorders in child psychiatry
with an incidence of between 5.5% and 6.9% (1). Even
with the best- known treatment, the success rate on
follow-up does not exceed 74% (2). The failure in treatment
often results in the adolescent becoming an adult with
antisocial personality disorder (APD) and a criminal
record. Youths with this disorder cause immense suffering
to society because of their antisocial behaviour and
the enormous costs associated with treatment, court
procedures, probation, detention, and incarceration.
The
Canadian Journal of Psychiatry - Home Page
This web page is intended to assist
parents and caregivers seeking information about services
funded and/or provided by the Ontario government for
children with physical, intellectual and/or developmental
disabilities, mental health disorders, medical problems
or those who need specialized services to participate
in daily living activities.
This article is not about FASD but
is about parenting issues that apply to all children.
Rosalind Wiseman is trying to protect “Wannabes” from
“Queen Bees.” To that end, she has established the Empower
Program, which is aided by the Girls’ Advisory Board.
Are girls meaner
than boys?
The information
is gathered from medical experts who have successfully
treated children and adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorders (FASD), including Fetal Alcohol Syndrome(FAS)
and Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND)
with or without other neurological disorders like obsessions,
compulsions, aggression, that interfere with the person's
ability to function in life. Behavior problems are due
in part to imbalance of chemicals in the brain caused
by prenatal exposure to alcohol.
This pamphlet is a summary of nutritional
measures which have helped our three children with FASD
over the past five years. None of these measures are
new, indeed many of these ideas come from literature
on alcoholism, autism, schizophrenia or other mental
disorders. I am a biochemical researcher, not a physician,
so I cannot give medical advice. If any of the ideas
in this pamphlet seem applicable to your child, I encourage
you to discuss them with your doctor, nutritionist,
or naturopath.
Main meals are quite easy, of course,
with your basic meat, potatoes or rice, and vegetable,
although you may need to adapt some recipes a bit for
sauces, etc. The biggest problems we faced were breakfast
and supper.
Get rice and tapioca flours at the Chinese
store, potato starch flour in the baking section of
any grocery store, chick-pea flour (labeled as gram
flour or besan) at the middle-eastern or Indian store.
Millet flour or flakes may be available at your health
food store; otherwise buy millet and grind it in an
electric coffee grinder. Sorghum flour (Jowar) from
an Indian store can be used in place of millet.
Dr. Bhushan Kapur.
Methanol in small amounts is present along with ethanol
in beverage alcohol. The body's natural enzymes preferentially
metabolize ethanol while methanol breaks down into highly
neurotoxic Formic Acid. Use of high levels of
Folic Acid was found to inhibit brain damage caused by
the methanol. The use of Folic Acid during pregnancy
has been recommended for several years to prevent neural
tube defects. However, this study indicates that even
higher levels of Folic Acid can be very benifical to the
developing baby, particularly where alcohol exposure is
a factor. Folic Acid is mandated as an additive to all
flour sold in Canada. The debate has begun on its required
addition to all beverage alcohol to help mitigate damage
caused to both infants and adults.
Authored by Julie
Conry, Ph.D., R. Psych. for the B.C. Ministry of Education.
Reproduced with permission of the British Columbia Ministry
of Education. A very comprehensive guide with useful tools.
This manual provides parents with systematic
strategies they can use to become more active participants
in the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process and
contribute to the development of a meaningful educational
program for their sons and daughters. The strategies
delineated in this manual are not expensive nor do they
require that parents obtain degrees in education or
advocacy in order to be effective. The strategies offer
common sense approaches as to how to effectively advocate
for inclusive education for their sons and daughters
with disabilities.
By Ellen Notbohm - This should be required
reading for all social service workers, teachers and
relatives of children with autism. There is great need
to understand the world as special needs children experience
it. So the voice of our child returns now to tell us
what children with autism wish their teachers knew.
Debbie Evenson
Professionals and the public in Alaska are deeply concerned
about the educational implication of prenatally alcohol/drug
exposed children.
Legal issues related to Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorder (FASD) have been explored recently by
a number of authors. [1] This discussion paper canvases
issues specifically related to FASD and the youth criminal
justice system. Where available, court decisions that
have addressed these issues are reviewed. Issues are explored
under six subject headings: (I) the FASD construct; (II)
fitness to stand trial; (III) criminal intent; (IV) proportionality
of youth court outcomes; (V) sentencing; and (VI) bridging
with social services. Original
URL
This article discusses the basics of Fetal
Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAS/E): the
history, nature, prevalence, causes and effects of prenatal
exposure to alcohol. Some of the unique features
of FAS/E are explored, particularly those that make it
so hard to spot and those that predispose people to nonproductive
or criminal activity. The presentation of FASD in
Juvenile Court is discussed and put in the context of
the multiplicity of factors pertaining to delinquency;
finally, innovative interventions, approaches and resources
are laid out. Issues surrounding FASD as they appear
in Family Court are then explored, with emphasis on the
intergenerational transmission of this array of conditions
and how we might interrupt such transmission.
“young person” means a person who is or,
in the absence of evidence to the contrary, appears to
be twelve years old or older, but less than eighteen years
old and, if the context requires, includes any person
who is charged under this Act with having committed an
offence while he or she was a young person or who is found
guilty of an offence under this Act. Original
URL
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject
only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as
can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic
society.
The Canadian Legal Information Institute
provides a database of Case Law determined by decisions
of federal, provincial and territorial courts, tribunals,
boards and panels. Available online only.
FAS/FAE individuals are definitely at
increased risk for coming in contact with the criminal
justice system and as medical personal become more aware
of FAS/FAE the availability of an early diagnosis is more
likely. It is likely that cases of FAS/FAE continue to
enter the prison system unrecognized. Correctional Service
Canada might consider developing a practical screening
instrument for identifying suspected cases of FAS/FAE
early in the incarceration process or acquiring such an
instrument if one becomes available elsewhere.
These materials cover suggestions for
how an individual with FAS/FAE should handle interactions
with the police. Here is a link relating to a card
which an individual with FAS/FAE can present to the
police explaining his or her disability, as well as
a general guide for dealing with the police.
A Lawyer's personal remarks. by David
Boulding "My remarks are personal and tentative - there
are probably more mistakes I have made. Perhaps I am unaware
of them or perhaps I choose to remain unaware. It is embarrassing
to admit. I encourage you to tell me what your experience
has been with lawyers' mistakes because you can help me
learn from my mistakes."
David Boulding is a former
criminal court lawyer who travels around the world to
speak about Fetal Alcohol and the Law. This is the first
in a series of educational videos about Fetal Alcohol.
These few sentences
are intended for parents and caregivers of persons with
the brain based birth defect often called fetal alcohol
spectrum disorder. Social services staff, probation officers,
teachers, and like minded folks might also find some comfort
here. I have some 15 years experience as a Canadian criminal
lawyer, both prosecution and defence. Like many lawyers
I have made many mistakes as a lawyer when dealing with
clients with fetal alcohol issues, and I intend here to
suggest ways you and your lawyer can avoid some of the
mistakes I have made.
When a young person
with FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) commits a
crime and ends up in the criminal justice system, the
family often learns the meaning of new terms, like "competent
to stand trial" and "diminished capacity." In criminal
law, competency is defined as being "sufficiently mentally
able to stand trial, if he/she understands the proceedings
and can rationally deal with
his/her lawyer."
This article has been included because
the behaviour patterns of many FAS / FAE children /
adults bring them into conflict with the law. Perhaps
the judicial system needs to find a more appropriate
response to individuals with these disabilities. Our
thanks to the National Crime Prevention Council for
their work in this area. Original
URL of "Offender Profiles"National
Crime Prevention Council's Home Page
The youth court caseload in Canada has
been declining over the past decade, consistent with
a decrease in charges laid by police, according to data
from the Youth Court Survey.
Youth courts heard 84,592 cases during the 2002/03
fiscal year, 1% fewer than in 2001/02, and 20% fewer
than in 1991/92 (the first year for which complete national
data coverage was available for the Youth Court Survey).
Many individuals with Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorders (FASD) have been in trouble with
the law, as indicated by research and as families learn
from experience. Ann Streissguth's recent long-term
study of secondary disabilities reveals that of the
415 individuals with FASD who completed the study, 60%
of the adolescents and adults have been in trouble with
the law for various crimes, ranging from shoplifting
to domestic violence. Trouble with abusing alcohol and
other drugs is another common problem in this group
of individuals. In the same study, Streissguth's research
indicates that 50% of the men and 70% of the women with
FASD have problems with alcohol or other drugs.
Articles on Legal
Issues
Fetal Alcohol And Drug Unit
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
University of Washington School of Medicine
&
University of Washington School of Law
Developing Successful Interventions
for Clients with FAS or ARND; a flyer created by
the Fetal Alcohol and Drug Unit and sponsored by March of Dimes (2002). It
explains about the brain damage prenatal alcohol exposure
causes, the behaviors that happen because of that exposure,
and shares helpful strategies when treating clients
with FAS or ARND.
Suggestions for More User-Friendly
Court Hearings; by the Hon. Michael I. Jeffery,
Presiding Superior Court Judge, Second Judicial District,
Borrow, Alaska. Suggestions for accommodations in the
courtroom for individuals disabled by FAS/FAE or with
cultural differences or language barriers. Additionally,
Judge Jeffery has simplified his routine court documents
to foster a clearer understanding of court procedures
and the commitments which are entered into by those
who appear before him.
Ethical issues
to be regarded with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder focus
on
various aspects. What are individual and autonomous rights?
What is termed abuse? What is the end result of alcohol
use during pregnancy? How is this information to be effectively
and compassionately used? Ethics involves what is right
and what is wrong in human behavior. There are “oughts”
and “ought nots” in action. Ethics also involves dilemmas
and what, if any, actions are an individual’s or society’s
duties in rectifying these dilemmas? How can the intent
of goodwill be used? What obligation does the scientific
community or educational institutions have to educate
or inform the public? Do ethical values translate into
legislation?
Crime Times
has a number of articles on issues relating to FAS/FAE.
A York County girl who suffers from
Asperger's syndrome is entitled to special education
services even though she completes her homework, behaves
well in class and scores well on tests, a federal judge
ruled. Ruling has implications for FASD as well.
1995 A civil action (Dobson vs. Dobson)
is launched on behalf of Ryan Dobson by Gerald Price,
his maternal grandfather and guardian. The action is
against the boy's mother for prenatal injuries sustained
by the boy as a fetus. Cynthia Dobson of Moncton, N.B.,
was 27 weeks pregnant when her car collided with a pickup
truck in a near fatal accident in 1993. Doctors performed
an emergency caesarean section. Born three months premature,
Ryan has serious physical and mental impairments, including
cerebral palsy. Gerald Price wants to win damages from
Dobson's insurance company for Ryan's care. (i)
1969
Bill C-150 Canada abortion law passes. The homicide
definition is amended so that homicide only takes place
if a child dies "after becoming a human being". Becoming
a human being is defined as having the umbilical cord
severed, having independent circulation, or having had
breathed. In 1988, the abortion law was struck down
by Supreme Court but the definition of becoming a human
being remains.
The
Supreme Court of Canada rules in Dobson v Dobson
that courts should not impose a legal obligation on
pregnant mothers to provide certain conditions for her
child. The court states, "First and foremost, for reasons
of public policy, the Court should not impose a duty
of care upon a pregnant woman towards her foetus or
subsequently born child. To do so would result in very
extensive and unacceptable intrusions into the bodily
integrity, privacy and autonomy rights of women."
Alberta kids can sue for fetal injuries.
New legislation targets mothers in auto crashes. In
a Canadian first, the Alberta government will introduce
legislation this month to allow children to sue their
mothers for automobile crash injuries they suffer while
still in the womb. The legislation is sure to raise
questions about the rights of women and the fetus, and
worries that it will open the door for mothers to someday
be sued for other activities they pursue while pregnant,
such as alcohol consumption or high-exertion sports.
While there are distinct differences
between Native tribes in Canada, the tribes have had
similar experiences politically and historically. The
balance of retaining traditional values while adjusting
to non-indigenous ways of life has been a difficult
endeavor for Native tribes. Law cases on Canadian Natives
indicate the task is just as problematic for the non-indigenous
to determine how indigenous people should be tried in
a court of law. Native law cases involve additional
issues like treaty interpretations, Aboriginal women's
rights, leadership and self-government, and especially
land rights.
Law cases are dependent on the numerous
treaties throughout Canada's history.
Articles Needed
Wills Discretionary Trusts
Power of Attorney
Guardianship
The TRIUMF Project
is a proposed series of multi-disciplinary diagnostic
/ training clinics, and self-sustaining residential village
/ farm / campground / rehab and conference centres specializing
in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Static Encephalopathy.
Most adults with FASD will need more
help than others to meet the more routine demands of
work and home. The kinds of services and the degree
of help needed may vary. Areas where assistance may
be important include employment, money management, housing,
and social skills. Many require close supervision to
help them make day-to-day decisions and stay safe. -
SAMHSA Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Center for Excellence
On Monday, June 6, 2005 we lost another
one of our special children. Christopher Surbey (Age 17,
FAS) was brutally stabbed to death in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Chris required close supervision due to his poor judgment
and his inability to avoid risky situations. However,
the residential placement provided for Chris only allowed
for daytime supervision. His parents pleaded with the
agency to supervise him at night as well, as he is at
highest risk during the evening hours, when he would go
out alone into the community. His adopted mother, Val
Surbey, was the founder of FASlink in 1995. We are profoundly
affected as in many ways we helped raise Chris over the
years through the FASlink global family. He was our child
too and also embodies the concerns we have for our own
children at home. Who will be next?
Diagnosed at age
43 with FAE, Fetal Alcohol Effects, Stephen (now age 50)
provides insight into some of the difficulties of growing
up with undiagnosed FASD. Stephen has found his niche
in the world as one of FASlink's key researchers.
When people say unkind things about
birth moms who have children with FASD, it is usually
out of ignorance of the nature of addictions, frustration
about the unnecessary injury to a child and/or a feeling
of helplessness. Addicted birth moms are also victims
of the beverage alcohol industry. The cost to us all
is astronomical and the beverage alcohol industry pays
less far less than 1% of the total damages caused by
their products.
Forgiveness is
learned early in life when, as children our parents overlook
an offense or forgive our breaking an expensive or beloved
object. They are the first to teach us how it feels to
receive loving forgiveness and unconditional acceptance
from those we hold dearest.
FASD presentation by Bruce Ritchie.
If you have the PowerPoint Viewer on your computer,
simply click on Open in the next screen.
If not, you can Download PowerPoint 2007
Viewer (Works with Windows 2000, XP and Vista)
This Adobe PDF format booklet is designed
for caregivers and professionals who, in their everyday
lives, encounter children and youth affected by Fetal
Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Readers should be aware that
this Booklet provides strategies and suggestions for
people who already have a base understanding of FASD.
If you would like more information on FASD, please visit
www.region6fasd.ca.
FASlink presentation
to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Standing Committee
on Social Policy regarding Bill 118, Accessibility for
Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2004
London, February 3, 2005
NOFAS - National
Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome - National Directory
of Professionals, Treatment Centers and Support Groups
for the United States
This web page is intended to assist
parents and caregivers seeking information about services
funded and/or provided by the Ontario government for
children with physical, intellectual and/or developmental
disabilities, mental health disorders, medical problems
or those who need specialized services to participate
in daily living activities.
About 3.6 million
Canadians have one or more disabilities. That's more than
one in every eight Canadians. This guide about Government
of Canada services and programs for people with disabilities
provides information on everything from employment, accessibility
and education, to health, income support and tax benefits.
A section tells you how to contact your provincial or
territorial government to find out about its programs
and services for people with disabilities.
If your child has FASD and you find
that you can no longer support them financially, he or
she may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits.The following
article is intended to provide a general overview of Social
Security Disability benefits and to prepare families for
the application process.
Expanding understanding of the relationship
of FASD and mental health creates more realistic expectations
for the children. Realistic expectations change our
behaviors toward children. Provide a framework for interventions.
Southwest Michigan Children's Trauma Assessment Center
This newsletter
was developed by FASD Stakeholders for Ontario to provide
information that will help people in Ontario work together
to address FASD. The newsletter reports on the activities
of FASD Stakeholders for Ontario, and shares other news
of relevance to individuals, caregivers and service providers
in Ontario who are working in the area of FASD. The newsletter
includes information about upcoming training events, new
resources, community activities etc.
General Indicators of Life Expectancy
and Mortality
The health of a population is determined by many factors,
and only partly the result of government actions. Nevertheless,
information on government programs affecting health
can be better interpreted when placed in the context
of the overall health status of Canadians.
Copyright Comment
The original material on this website
has either been authored by Bruce Ritchie or reproduced
with the explicit or implied permission of the authors
or has been published freely in an unrestricted public
forum on the Internet by the authors. All browser software
makes a permanent copy on the visitor's computer of each
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without-charge access, the author has automatically given
implied permission for that work to be copied to any and all of the hundreds
of millions of computers worldwide that have access to
the Internet. Under Canadian Copyright law this implied
permission to make copies does not affect the copyright
owner's property rights but does give permission to make
further copies.
