In the News

SAFEST Choice is Now Enrolling Its 5-month Bi-weekly ECHO® Programs
SAFEST Choice | 12/3/25
The SAFEST Choice Learning Collaborative aims to reduce the incidence of prenatal alcohol exposure and improve outcomes in children with suspected or diagnosed fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Regional Cerebellum Volume Anomalies and Associated Cognitive Function in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
NIH | 11/28/25
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) significantly impacts cerebellar development, which may affect cognitive function in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).

Regional Cerebellum Volume Anomalies and Associated Cognitive Function in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
ScienceDirect | 11/27/25
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and may increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as miscarriage and stillbirth.

Bobby Dodd Institute Launches Benefits Navigation
Bobby Dodd Institute | 11/19/25
The Bobby Dodd Institute recently launched a Benefits Navigation recently launched a guide for you and your family. If you’re living with any type of disabling condition, we help you find, apply for, and maximize the public and private benefits and resources that can support your financial stability, independence and quality of life.

The Families Moving Forward Connect Teacher Companion Website: Development and Initial Pilot Randomized Trial of an FASD-Informed Resource for Teachers
NIH | 11/12/25
Students with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are at risk of poor academic performance and school disruption given teachers' limited opportunity to learn about how to support them. 

Perinatal and Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Impairs Striatal Cholinergic Function and Cognitive Flexibility in Adult Offspring
ScienceDirect | 11/1/25
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, caused by perinatal alcohol exposure and prenatal alcohol exposure, is characterized by significant cognitive impairments, including reduced cognitive flexibility.

Exploring Occupational Therapy Practice for Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
NIH | 10/31/25
Occupational therapy's whole-person approach is well-suited to address the complex needs of children and youth with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Drinking for Two? Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Rewires the Brain and Fuels Compulsive Behavior, New Study Finds
Texas A&M Stories | 10/28/25
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, a leading cause of neurodevelopmental disorders, may affect as many as 1 in 20 school-aged children in the United States

Join the Mommy's Milk Research Biorepository Breast Milk Study
Mommy's Milk Research Biorepository | 9/25/25
Mommy’s Milk is looking for lactating parents in your area to share their experience breastfeeding. You will get a $35 Target gift card for participating.

Milestone Achievement for Advocacy Community: FASD Respect Act Language Passes Congress
FASD United Policy and Training Center | 9/22/25
Two short days after over 100 advocates visited Capitol Hill during National FASD Impact Week, the United States Congress passed the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 2483), which includes authorization of the FASD Respect Act.

Creating a Family Launches Prenatal Substance Exposure Training
Creating a Family | 9/11/25
Creating a Family offers evidence-based, trauma-informed workshops and training for foster, adoptive, and kinship parents and professionals to understand and learn strategies to support children exposed prenatally to alcohol and drugs.

SAFEST Choice is Now Enrolling Its 5-month Bi-weekly ECHO® Programs
SAFEST Choice | 9/3/25
The SAFEST Choice Learning Collaborative aims to reduce the incidence of prenatal alcohol exposure and improve outcomes in children with suspected or diagnosed fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Consistent Constituent Communication Builds Relationships
FASD United Policy and Training Center | 8/25/25
One way advocates can make a powerful impact is through consistent communication with their legislators. Calling, meeting with, and emailing your legislators deepens their understanding of FASD and build trust.

Discontinuation of Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder During Pregnancy and Postpartum in the United States
Wiley Online Library | 8/23/25
The degree of alcohol use disorder treatment utilization during the perinatal period is unknown. 

Comorbidities Associated with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in the United States
Scientific Reports | 8/13/25
The detrimental effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on the development of humans are well understood and include fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), a broad set of conditions referring to the adverse physical and behavioral health impairments associated with exposure to alcohol in utero.

Perinatal and Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Impairs Striatal Cholinergic Function and Cognitive Flexibility in Adult Offspring
National Library of Medicine | 8/6/25
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, caused by perinatal alcohol exposure and prenatal alcohol exposure, is characterized by significant cognitive impairments, including reduced cognitive flexibility.

Sarah Raifman, PhD, MSc, Highlights the Link Between Heavy Drinking and Pregnancy
Contemporary OB/GYN | 8/5/25
In a recent interview with Contemporary OB/GYN, Sarah Raifman, PhD, MSc, Project Director and social epidemiologist at Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, discussed findings from a recent study examining the relationship between heavy alcohol consumption and the risk of unintended pregnancy.

The Scoop: Meet Lexi!
Johnson County Post | 8/4/25
Lexi Cartwright has been with The Golden Scoop for a year and a half, and she loves every minute of it.

Feasibility of an Inpatient Split-Dose Rapid Methadone Induction Protocol for Pregnant Individuals
Journal of Addiction Medicine | 8/1/25
Opioid use disorder is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes.

Assessing Supportive Needs in Pregnant Women with Substance Use, a Qualatative Study
ScienceDirect | 7/26/25
Pregnant women with substance use (SUD), are a vulnerable group with special reproductive health needs. The study aimed to assess the supportive needs of pregnant women with substance use.

Alcohol Use is Up Among Women - and Health Consequences Have Followed
NBC News | 7/25/25
The risk that alcohol poses to women’s health has mounted over the last two decades, as they have begun to drink more frequently and in larger quantities.

New Resource: A Toolkit to Support PAE Collection in FASD Diagnostic Clinics
CanFASD | 7/23/25
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) diagnostic clinics across Canada face an ongoing challenge: confirming prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) in a consistent, ethical, and trauma-informed manner. 

Prevalence of Congenital Heart Defects Among Children With and Without Diagnosed Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, 2016-2022
ScienceDirect | 7/3/25
Alcohol use during pregnancy might be a risk factor for some congenital heart defects (CHDs), but CHD prevalence among children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) is not well understood. We used two administrative databases to explore CHD prevalence among U.S. children with and without FASDs.

Alcohol Use During Pregnancy: the Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Alcohol Consumption Among Pregnant Women
BMC | 7/1/25
There is no safe amount or time of alcohol consumption during pregnancy; however, many women drink while pregnant placing themselves and their fetuses at risk for alcohol-related health complications.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: The Caring and Financial Burden to Caregivers-A Scoping Review
PubMed | 7/1/25
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a lifelong neurodisability caused by exposure to alcohol in utero. It can have a severe impact on the affected child as well as their families, yet the costs associated are unclear.

Overcoming Barriers to Care for Individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Challenges and Solutions in New Mexico and Beyond
Frontiers | 6/6/25
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder encompasses a range of neurodevelopmental impairments caused by prenatal alcohol exposure, affecting cognitive, behavioral, and social functioning.

The FASD Respect Act Passes the House!
FASD United | 6/3/25
With nationwide support from advocates, the SUPPORT Act, with the FASD Respect Act language included in it, passed the House on June 4th, 2025. The FASD community demonstrated its political will with strong, visible support. This is a major victory!

The impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on sleep outcomes in 10,336 young adolescents: An Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study
NIH 5/14/25
This study investigated the associations between prenatal alcohol exposure, including low and moderate levels of exposure, and sleep outcomes in adolescence.

National FASD Impact Week
FASD United | 5/7/25
Join advocates, clinicians, researchers, and professionals from around the country for three days of advocacy, action, collaboration and community from September 15 to 17, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Executive and Social Functioning in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Comparison to Autism
NIH | 5/1/25
Executive function is an area of challenge for both children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and children with autism spectrum disorder.

Waiting Room: Let's Talk About What Everyone Should Know About Alcohol Guidelines and Pregnancy
CDC | 4/30/25
This animated video discusses what everyone should know about alcohol guidelines and pregnancy.

FASD United Recognizes April as Alcohol Awareness Month
FASD United | 4/1/25
This April, FASD United recognizes Alcohol Awareness Month as a great opportunity to learn more about the health impacts of alcohol, especially prenatal alcohol exposure

Volunteers Wanted! BRAIN-Online FASD Scanning Tool
San Diego State University | 3/26/25
The Brief Assessment of Individual Neurobehavior - online version (BRAIN-online) is a new screening tool for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Volunteers (ages 5 years and older) can complete this web-based assessment in one hour or less and receive feedback on their performance in cognitive and behavioral areas commonly affected by prenatal alcohol exposure.

Normative Modeling of Brain MRI Data Identifies Small Subcortical Volumes and Associations with Cognitive Function in Youth with Fetal alcohol Spectrum Disorder
NIH | 3/26/25
To quantify regional subcortical brain volume anomalies in youth with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), assess the relative sensitivity and specificity of abnormal volumes in FASD vs. a comparison group, and examine associations with cognitive function.

Substance Use and Mental Health Symptoms in Adults with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
ScienceDirect | 3/12/25
Substance use and mental health problems have been documented in individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure in young adulthood, but little is known about how these patterns progress over time into midlife.

Identifying Family Environment Profiles in Families of Children with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
NIH | 3/11/25
Individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure may face unique family environments that potentially influence adaptive functioning and behavioral challenges.

Healthcare Utilization and Characteristics of Adults with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: a Descriptive Population-Based Cohort Study in Ontario, Canada
NIH | 3/10/25
Adults with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome experience many adverse health and social outcomes, yet their healthcare utilisation is under-researched.

Caregivers' Experiences with Diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A Life-Course Approach
NIH | 3/3/25
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a developmental disability. A diagnosis of FASD is vital for support and wellbeing. However, receiving a diagnosis can be challenging.

Alcohol Consumption Among Pregnant Women in Brazilian Capitals: How Many, Where and Who are They?
NIH | 3/3/25
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy poses serious risks to maternal and fetal health, making it a public health concern.

Minnesota-Based Group Fights Stigma Surrounding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
NIH | 2/27/2025
About one to five percent of school-age children in the United States are living with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, developmental challenges caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy. The numbers are higher for children in foster care.  

First Evidence-Based Guideline for Interventions in FASD
NIH | 2/27/2025
Prenatal alcohol exposure causes disruptions in brain development. The resulting disorder, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, cannot be cured, but interventions can help improve the daily functioning of affected children and adolescents and the quality of life for the entire family.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder – with Jessica Birch
Beyond 6 Seconds | 2/24/2025
Jessica Birch is a national advocate and speaker living on the South East Coast of Australia. Since her late diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) at the age of 33, she has turned her attention to awareness building and education.

Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Before Pregnancy Awareness: a Thematic Analysis of Online Forum Comments and Misinformation
NIH - 2/17/2025
Many women consume alcohol while pregnant before they are aware of the pregnancy, raising concerns about potential harms to the developing fetus.

Maternal Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Childhood Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
NIH | 2/1/2025
Childhood cancers are a leading cause of death among children worldwide. Maternal alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy has been suggested as a potential risk factor for childhood cancers.

Seeking Volunteers! Understanding Personal Experiences in Institutions, Doctoral Study
FASD United | 2/1/2025
Are 18 to 65 years old and diagnosed with FASD Were institutionalized between the ages of 12 and 25 Are willing to talk about your experiences Want to contribute towards making a difference for individuals with FASD

Maternal, Paternal and Dual-Parental Alcohol Exposures Result in Both Overlapping and Distinct Impacts on Behavior in Adolescent Offspring
NIH | 1/22/2025
Emerging research reveals that alcohol use by fathers before conception can affect the growth and development of their offspring.

Alcohol, Tobacco and Illicit Drug Use During Pregnancy in the Longitudinal BELpREG Cohort in Belgium Between 2022 and 2024
NIH | 1/18/2025
Substance use during pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes for both mother and child.