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.
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 web
page visited. By placing a work on the Internet for 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.
