Ontario Government is seeking input on Ontario’s Proposed Alcohol Strategy
If you have thoughts on this issue you are welcome to share them atAlcoholPolicyConsultations@Ontario.ca
Recommendations About Alcohol and Pregnancy
The safest choice in pregnancy is not to drink.
Public Health Agency of Canada
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-ps/dca-dea/prog-ini/fasd-etcaf/publications/cp-pc/index-eng.php
There is no safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Alcohol Use and Pregnancy Consensus Clinical Guidelines
http://sogc.org/guidelines/alcohol-use-and-pregnancy-consensus-clinical-guidelines/
http://pregnancy.sogc.org/alcohol-and-pregnancy/
If you are trying to get pregnant, you are pregnant or you suspect you might be pregnant avoid alcohol.
Canada’s Low Risk Drinking Guidelines
http://www.ccsa.ca/Eng/topics/alcohol/drinking-guidelines/Pages/default.aspx
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause birth defects and brain damage to your baby. The safest choice in pregnancy is no alcohol at all. In fact, it is best to stop drinking before you get pregnant.
Best Start, Ontario’s Maternal, Newborn and Early Child Development Resource Centre
http://www.alcoholfreepregnancy.ca/
It is safest not to drink alcohol during pregnancy or while trying to get pregnant. There is no known safe level of drinking during pregnancy.
Canada FASD Research Network (CanFASD)
www.canfasd.ca
Making The Case for Prevention
- FASD is the leading preventable cause of developmental disability in Canada
- Prevention of FASD is a great return on investment
- FASD affects 1% of the Canadian population
- Many experts feel that the prevalence of FASD is much higher due to a lack of awareness about FASD in the medical community and a shortage of diagnostic services
- Estimated annual cost to support those with FASD in Canada is 5.3-7.6 billion dollars/year (birth to age 53) (Public Health Agency of Canada and CanFASD)
- The treatment and support for those affected by FASD is expensive and the disorder lasts a lifetime creating lifelong challenges for the individual and their support networks
- 800,000 – 1.4 million dollars/individual is the estimated cost to support those affected with FASD over a life time1
- If we prevent just one case of FASD we will save $800,000 to 1.4 million dollars
- Youth with FASD are 19X more likely to be incarcerated than non-affected peers2
- If we spend $150,000 on the prevention of FASD we would save 1.5 million dollars in prevention1
- It is important to develop strategies that are evidence informed to use our resources wisely
Time to Get Serious About FASD Prevention – Dr. Sterling Clarren
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0HLMNBmmDw