Grant: CIHR Café Scientifique Program

Maternal drinking during pregnancy and consequent prenatal alcohol exposure can lead to a myriad of adverse developmental outcomes in children, and is one of the most common causes of mental deficiency in the western world. Despite attempts to increase public awareness of the risks associated with drinking during pregnancy, a significant proportion of pregnancies in Canada are alcohol-exposed, and a disproportionate percentage of high-risk pregnancies appear to involve drug and alcohol exposure. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is the umbrella term encompassing all of the adverse developmental outcomes in children resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure. FASD has been demonstrated to have a substantial negative impact on all facets of society, and is the leading preventable cause of behavioural and cognitive disorders in children. According to Health Canada, approximately 1 in 100 babies are born with FASD every year. Even in the absence of a diagnosis of an FASD, research data suggest that alcohol use during pregnancy is associated with some level of behavioural or cognitive impairment in children. The Café panel will discuss FASD research and the effects of maternal drinking during pregnancy and consequent prenatal alcohol exposure, as well as the impact on individuals, families and society, including the heavy economic impact and the challenges of managing individuals with FASD in the judicial system. The panel will also discuss the challenges of contrasting advice from health care professionals for pregnant women, as well as the increase in binge drinking among young women, and how these choices affect the rate of prenatal alcohol exposure.