There is not a lot of research on strengths and success in people with FASD. Strengths-based research is important for creating a more balanced, hopeful, and optimistic understanding about FASD. This can ultimately increase wellbeing for people with FASD and their families.
We want to hear from adults with FASD about their strengths and successes. We’re doing a study to learn about how adults with FASD see themselves, what they’re good at, and how they feel about their lives. We are looking for people with FASD who are 18 years or older, in Canada and worldwide.
What are we asking you to do?
There are three different ways to be a part of this study. You can pick how you want to share with us:
You can answer survey questions about your thoughts and feelings
You can share artwork or pictures that are important to you. You can use any kind of art you want, then take a picture of it and send us the picture. We’ll also ask you to tell us what it means to you, using your own words.
You can even do both things!
If you have FASD and are 18 years or older, please consider doing our study! It will take about an hour of your time. If you or someone you know are interested in completing the survey, follow this link.
If you don’t have internet but still want to do the study, you can contact Katy Flannigan at katy.flannigan@canfasd.ca. Someone from the research team will ask you the questions over the phone.
Why is this important?
Strengths-based research is needed to balance the story of FASD. Research on strengths and successes can help to promote a sense of agency, wellbeing, and resilience, and support individuals with FASD and their families to thrive. By being in this study, you will help others learn more about FASD and how to provide better support for people with FASD. You will also be helping to decrease the stigma of FASD.
What is Canada’s Low Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines?
Canada’s LRDG was originally released in 2011. This set of guidelines was developed to increase awareness and start public discussions about moderate drinking practices. The guidelines are intended to outline best practices for setting drink limits and when not to drink alcohol. Overall, they are intended to help people aged 25-65 make informed decisions about drinking.
Why is Canada’s LRDG Being Updated?
Since being published in 2011, there has been substantial new research on alcohol use and the physical, mental, and social effects. Health Canada has funded the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction to update Canada’s LRDG to reflect this new evidence.
FROM THE CANADIAN CENTRE OF SUBSTANCE USE AND ADDICTION UPDATE OF CANADA’S LOW RISK ALCOHOL DRINKING GUIDELINES: FINAL REPORT FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION
Update of Canada’s LRDG
The CCSA has recently released The Canadian Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines: Final Report. This report was developed and guided by a public health perspective focused on providing Canadians with the latest evidence to make informed decisions. CanFASD’s Prevention Research Lead, Dr. Nancy Poole, helped to inform this process by providing expertise on alcohol use in pregnancy.
There is now overwhelming evidence that shows the impact of even small amounts of alcohol on our health and well-being. The CCSA intends to replace the LRDG with Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health. The new document will help Canadians determine where they fit into the continuum of risk associated with alcohol consumption. It will be relatable to everyone and applicable all segments of our population. The final document is expected to be released in Fall 2022 after it goes through a public consultation process.
What does the new evidence tell us?
Alcohol is the leading preventable cause of death and disability. Regular alcohol consumption can increase your risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, mental health challenges and other injuries or disease. Alcohol consumption is also linked to death and injury, violence, and abuse.
Alcohol use also impacts reproductive health. Alcohol use in pregnancy can lead to lifelong impacts including brain injury, birth defects, behavioural problems, learning disabilities, and other health problems. It is safest not to drink alcohol during pregnancy. Experts also recommend not using alcohol while breastfeeding or during the preconception period.
The risks of alcohol consumption are wide-ranging and your personal risk falls somewhere on a continuum. Your risk depends on different factors like your gender, age, and socio-economic status. Overall, the new evidence shows that when it comes to drinking alcohol, less is more.
Seven Key Messages
From this knowledge gathering process, the authors of this final report have provided seven key takeaway messages about alcohol consumption, including highlighting the risk of alcohol consumption during pregnancy and pre-conception.
All levels of alcohol consumption are associated with some risk, so drinking less is better for everyone.
Among healthy individuals, there is a continuum of risk for alcohol-related harms whereby the risk is:
Negligible to low for individuals who consume two standard drinks or less per week;
Moderate for those who consume between three and six standard drinks per week; and
Increasingly high for those who consume more than six standard drinks per week.
On any occasion, any level of consumption has risks, and with more than two standard drinks, most individuals will have an increased risk of injuries or other problems
Disproportionately more injuries, violence and deaths result from men’s drinking.
Above low levels of alcohol consumption, the health risks increase more steeply for women than for men.
It is safest not to drink alcohol while pregnant and during the pre-conception period.
For women who are breastfeeding, it is safest not to use alcohol.
Learn more about the ongoing changes/updates on Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines.
Young children’s exposure to their mothers’ and fathers’ drinking influences their perceptions of who consumes alcohol, with “vast implications” for their own future use, a new study suggests. The study, in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, provides compelling evidence of intergenerational transmission of drinking behaviors to children, including gender-based perceptions—the first time these effects have been demonstrated in children aged 4–8.
Children’s exposure to the use of alcohol around them is known to shape their perceptions of “typical” alcohol consumption (norms). Those perceptions influence drinking initiation, usually as adolescents, and alcohol consumption over time. Recent research has shown that how much parents drink in general is less relevant in this regard than their alcohol use in the presence of children. For the new study, investigators explored how exposure to mothers’ and fathers’ drinking influences young children’s perceptions of alcohol-related norms and what children infer about drinking and gender.
The researchers worked with 329 children and their parents, who were involved in a family study in the Netherlands. On three home visits in 2015, 2016, and 2017, the children completed a visual task on tablet computers. The task involved matching individuals depicted in family situations where alcohol might be consumed (e.g., dinner, party, watching TV, camping) with one of 12 beverages (four alcoholic, eight non-alcoholic). The children’s parents completed surveys on their recent alcohol use, including how often they drank alcohol in the situations featured in the visual test. The researchers used statistical analysis to explore how exposure to mothers’ and fathers’ drinking influenced how children attributed alcohol use to adults.
The opinions expressed in this post are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the FASD Prevention Conversation Project, its stakeholders, or funders.
This first education module explains the spectrum of substance use, problematic substance use and substance use disorder, strategies for reducing harm, and how to build resilience. The module also explores the connections between brain development, adverse childhood experiences and substance use.
Jen Duperron-Trydal brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role as the FASD Instructional Coach. She has been employed with the Northwest Peace FASD Network since 2014 and has held the roles of Community Resource Advocate as well as FASD Diagnostic Clinic Coordinator. During this time, Jen has had the opportunity to present about FASD at a number of Educational Conferences/Conventions. In the past, Jen was also employed for over a decade within various school systems (including High Schools, Elementary Schools, an Alternate School, and a College). Please reach out to Jen at jen@nwfasd.ca for more information.
