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Vermont Departament of Health Launches “049” Campaign
May 23, 2013
Nearly one-quarter (24%) of mothers in Vermont report that they did not get advice from a health care provider to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy
The Vermont Department of Health is launching an informational outreach campaign designed to encourage health care providers to advise their patients about '049': to drink zero alcohol while trying to become pregnant, and throughout nine months of pregnancy.
In Vermont, health care providers advising women not to drink resulted in a significantly lower prevalence of drinking during pregnancy. Simply discussing alcohol or asking how much women drank did not change drinking prevalence.
The 049 campaign will be launched statewide with a news release, social media messages and web resources. Health Department district office staff will deliver posters, buttons and print materials to help health care providers advise and support their patients in the decision not to drink.
For more information and to view campaign materials: www.healthvermont.gov/adap/049
Dan Dubovsky, FASD Specialist for the SAMHSA FASD Center for Excellence, Coauthors Article about the Impact of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Substance Abuse Treatment
May 13, 2013
According to several studies, people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) are at high risk for developing substance abuse problems. A recent article coauthored by Dan Dubovsky, FASD Specialist for the SAMHSA FASD Center for Excellence, explores the various ways FASD can affect substance abuse treatment.
“The Impact of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Addiction Treatment” appeared in the March/April 2013 issue of the Journal of Addiction Medicine. The article details the physical and psychological impacts of prenatal alcohol exposure that contribute to an increased risk of substance abuse among individuals with an FASD.
The authors urge treatment professionals to consider the FASD of their clients when formulating treatment plans, noting that not doing so may result in treatment failure and/or relapse. The article also includes a clinical case example as well as a menu of accommodations treatment professionals can use to address impairments associated with FASD that limit substance abuse treatment success.