Planning an Implementing Screening and Brief Intervention for Risky Alcohol Use: A Step-by-Step Guide for Primary Care Practices

The CDC has released a new resource for primary care practices that provides a guide for identifying and addressing risky alcohol use. The guide highlights the importance of screening and brief intervention (SBI) for alcohol use in primary care because it has been shown to reduce excessive drinking by as much as 25%. However, only 1 in 6 adults reported ever talking with their doctor or health care provider about their alcohol use.

Risky drinking can have many negative health effects including hypertension, increased body weight, and impairment of short and long term memory. The article is available for download at: Planning and Implementing Screening and Brief Intervention for Risky Alcohol Use. (PDF)

 

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Guidelines for Referral and Diagnosis

This report provides diagnostic guidelines for fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), referral information, services for people with FASDs, and ideas for screening and advising women about risky drinking and drinking while pregnant. The article is available for download at: FAS: Guidelines for Referral and Diagnosis (PDF).

 

Alcohol and Women: How to Screen and Intervene

This video, presented by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Expert Commentary, discusses steps that health care providers can take to detect and intervene with women who drink alcohol at risky levels. Advice is based on information from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). The 4 minute video can be found at: Alcohol and Women: How to Screen and Intervene (Medscape Video)

 

Continuing Education through The Arc

The Arc, founded in 1950, promotes and protects the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. One of their programs, the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Prevention Project, is designed to increase provider knowledge about fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and encourage prevention strategies. 

In partnership with Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP), The Arc developed a one hour webinar to educate women's health and primary care professionals on preventing FASD. The course is free of cost and certificates and credit are available upon completion of the course. 

To register for the course, please visit: Association of Reproductive Health Professionals

 

Alcohol in Pregnancy: Training for Midwives

The National Organization for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome-United Kingdom (NOFAS-UK), is an organization dedicated to supporting individuals, families, and communities affected by FASD. This year the organization created an informational film "No Alcohol No Risk-FASD Information for Midwives," which can be viewed on their website, NOFAS-UK, as well as additional information on how to sign up for a two credit FASD class.

 

4-Digit Diagnostic Code: Online Training

In 1997 the first edition of the 4-digit diagnostic code was developed by the Washington State FAS Diagnostic and Prevention Network (FAS DPN). The 4-digit code is a tool which can be used to accurately diagnose fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. 

The University of Washington FAS DPN Clinical Team offers an online training for those interested in learning how to use the 4-digit code. The course is intended for research and clinical professionals who are actively involved in FASD screening and diagnosis.

The course is worth two continuing education units (CEU), can be completed at any pace, and you can begin on any date. For more information and to register for the online course, please visit their website at: FAS Diagnostic and Prevention Network

 

FASD Competency-Based Curriculum Development Guide for Medical and Allied Health Education and Practice

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides this teaching tool as a way to improve prevention, identification, and management of FASD. The curriculum provides the following seven competencies for learning: foundation, screening and brief interventions, models of addiction, biological effects of alcohol on the fetus, screening, diagnosis, and assessment of FAS, treatment across the lifespan, and ethical, legal, and policy issues. 

The curriculum PDF guide and PowerPoint slides for each competency are available for download through the CDC website: FASD Competency-Based Curriculum Development Guide for Medical and Allied Health Education and Practice

 

Brochures, Posters, and Fact Sheets

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides free brochures, posters, fact sheets, and training guides that are available for download or order. These resources can be found at: Free Materials

 

Center on Disability and Community Inclusion

Resources from the Center on Disability and Community Inclusion

The Person Behind the Face of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Student Experiences and Family and Professionals' Perspectives on FASD (PDF): This article describes the individual experiences of five students with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) living in Alaska. The article is based on the results of a three year qualitative study where interviews and observations were conducted with students and their family members, as well as their educational and medical professionals. Findings of the study revealed several major themes including the person behind the face of FASD, the experiences of students in terms of competence and vulnerability, the social and cultural stigma of FASD and the anticipated trajectories that lead students toward experiences of isolation. The article concludes with recommendations about what can be done to improve the education and community life of students who have FASDs.

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