International FASD Awareness Day
September 9, 2008 is the tenth annual FASD Awareness Day. The purpose of FASD Awareness Day is to increase awareness of the importance of FASD as a public health issue in terms of both prevention of the birth of children prenatally exposed to alcohol and treatment for individuals living with an FASD and their families. These goals support the ultimate objective of SAMHSA’s FASD Center for Excellence (the Center): To decrease the incidence of FASD and improve the quality of life among individuals and families who have been effected by FASD.
In many locations, FASD awareness events are held at 9:09am on 9/9: This is the 9th minute of the 9th hour of the 9th day of the 9th month of the year, and is used to remind women not to drink during the 9 months of pregnancy. To reinforce this critical message, the Center will spotlight FASD Awareness Day throughout the month of September.
FASD Around the World
FASD Around the World examines the global nature of FASD; that it doesn't just happen in a few countries, but all around the world. At the same time, there is tremendous work being done across the globe to decrease the incidence of FASD and to develop services and supports for individuals with an FASD and their families. As FASD is a world-wide issue, true progress within the field requires sharing this information and the lessons that others have learned. As a lead agency in the implementation of FASD prevention and treatment, SAMHSA seeks to be aware of current global efforts, and to share those efforts with consumers, care providers, researchers, and policymakers here and abroad.
We invite you to click on the various countries above and learn more about what the U.S. and others are doing in the battle to reduce the incidence of FASD and improve the quality of life of those living with FASD. We've also provided a selected bibliography from the most recent FASD and alcohol-related research. While the countries above are not the only places in the world where progress is being made in the field of FASD, they represent some of the most promising and advanced efforts in the areas of awareness, prevention, research, and intervention. If you know of noteworthy initiatives going on in other countries, please contact the Center and share that information with us.
In the global fight to address FASD, we not only can but should learn from each other. That’s what FASD Awareness Day and FASD Around the World are all about.
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