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Notice to Readers: New CDC Materials Regarding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

April has been designated Alcohol Awareness Month in the United States to call attention to the problem of alcohol abuse and alcohol-related issues. Alcohol awareness is particularly important for women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy. Prenatal alcohol exposure is one of the leading preventable causes of birth defects and developmental disabilities. Effective strategies are needed to 1) identify women at risk and intervene and 2) diagnose and treat children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs).

CDC has developed new materials that can guide in the identification, prevention, and management of FASDs. These products include a curriculum development guide for use with health-care students and practitioners and recommendations from the National Task Force on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect on promoting and improving strategies to 1) reduce alcohol use and alcohol-exposed pregnancies and 2) improve early identification, diagnostic services, and research on interventions for children with FASDs and their families. These new materials are available at http://www.cdc.gov/fasd.

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Date last reviewed: 4/22/2009