In the News

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.