Green Mountain Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), is a non-diagnostic umbrella term, used to describe a range of effects that can occur in individuals who were prenatally exposed to alcohol. These effects can include central nervous system dysfunction, and physical defects as well as behavioral, emotional and/or learning disabilities.

Types of FASDs

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS): FAS is the severe end of the FASD spectrum. FAS is characterized by distinctive facial features, growth problems, and central nervous system (CNS) damage. People with FAS might have problems with a combination of the following: learning, memory, attention span, motor function, communication, social skills, vision, and hearing.

Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND): ARND is a term used to describe a complex range of disabilities in neurodevelopment, behaviors, adaptive skills, and self-regulation. Individuals with ARND were prenatally exposed to alcohol but do not display the distinctive facial features if FAS, and may or may not present with growth deficiencies and structural/functional central nervous system abnormalities.

Neurobehavioral Disorder associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (ND-PAE): ND-PAE is a diagnostic classification, but not an official mental disorder diagnosis, in which an individual was prenatally exposed to alcohol and has mild impairment of neurocognitive functioning, self-regulation, and adaptive functioning.

Alcohol-Related Birth Defects (ARBD): ARBD describes the physical defects in the skeletal and organ systems that are associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. These defects include malformations in the heart, skeleton, kidney, ear, and eye.

FASD Fast Facts

  • There is no known safe amount of alcohol to drink during pregnancy-all types of alcohol (beer, wine, liquor) are equally harmful.
  • Alcohol is more harmful on the developing fetus than cigarettes, heroin, cocaine or crack.
  • Alcohol can harm a fetus at any time during pregnancy, even before a woman knows she is pregnant.
  • When a pregnant woman drinks, her child receives the same concentration of alcohol.
  • FASD is 100% preventable by not drinking while pregnant.
  • FASD is the leading preventable cause of intellectual disability, birth defects, and a leading known cause of learning disabilities.

FASD Resources

As of September 30, 2014 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has funded eleven new cooperative agreements to expand FASD training programs and prevention opportunities, as well as strengthen strategic partnerships with national medical societies and professional organizations. The eleven agreements have been split into two groups: the FASD Practice and Implementation Centers and the FASD Prevention and Practice through National Partnerships.

FASD Practice and Implementation Centers

The purpose of the FASD Practice and Implementation Centers is to expand on the previous efforts of the FASD Regional Training Centers (RTCs), while focusing more on FASD prevention opportunities. The goal is to shift the perspective from individual training to impacting healthcare practice at the systems level. Below are the new CDC funded agreements:

  • Baylor College of Medicine
  • University of Alaska-Anchorage
  • University of California-San Diego
  • University of Missouri
  • University of Nevada-Reno
  • University of Wisconsin

FASD Prevention and Practice Through National Partnerships

The purpose of improving FASD Prevention and Practice through National Partnerships is to strengthen communication between organizations, improve delivery of care, ensure messages are scientifically accurate and consistent, and increase the availability of community FASD resources and materials. Below are the new CDC funded partnerships:

FASD Regional Training Centers (RTCs)

The FASD Regional Training Centers, which were funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between 2011-2014, aimed to establish alcohol screening and brief intervention (SBI) as a routine part of primary care, as well as raise awareness and provide education about  FASDs. The FASD RTCs were restructured this year to create the FASD Practice and Implementation Centers.  Below are the previously CDC-funded projects from 2011-2014:

STATE INITIATIVES

While we work to build a larger Vermont FASD resource base, please take advantage of other state resources.

European FASD Alliance

The European FASD Alliance was founded in February 2011. It is a nonprofit organization that strives to improve the quality of life for people with FASDs and their families and to increase public awareness about the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy. For more information, please feel free to visit their website: European FASD Alliance

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