1 in 20 Scottish babies affected by mothers' drinking
Health experts are campaigning for more understanding of a syndrome which affects 1 in 20 children.
Statistices on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder show it is more prevalent than has been believed for youngsters in Scotland, with around 1 in 20 affected.
A study carried out in Glasgow examined the meconium of newborn babies and found 42% had some level of alcohol exposure from their mothers during pregnancy, and around 15% of the pregnancies had been exposed to very high levels of alcohol.
Campaigners say the consequences of alcohol exposure in the womb can be profound, affecting learning and behaviour as well as physical and mental health.
Aily Brown is the adoptive mother of a child with FASD. She told Forth 1:
"This really needs to be seen for the pandemic it is, and one which is virutally hidden for most people because these kids just look like anyone else. For most people you can't tell just by looking a somebody.
"There's a lack of understanding, lack of support and a lack of resources in education, and for parents at home, which is potentially impacting the whole of society, not just the indivdual.
"If you asked most people on the street corner they could tell you something about autism. I would like to increase everyone's awareness about the impacts of alcohol in pregnancy and how that could lead to FASD."
Alison Douglas, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland said: “Every parent wants the best for their child but it is difficult to make the healthy choice when awareness of the impacts of drinking alcohol during pregnancy are so low.
"As a consequence, too many babies in Scotland are exposed to alcohol in the womb, with potentially serious consequences for their health and well-being throughout their lives.
"The message is simple: “No Alcohol, No Risk”, if you are pregnant or trying to conceive.
"We need to do more to communicate this through social marketing campaigns, but also through GPs, family-planning and ante-natal services who have an opportunity to talk to women and their partners about their drinking when advising on fertility or pregnancy.
It comes as another new study shows harm related to alcohol remains a significant issue for men, for whom drinking is closely connected to their identity, according to a new report.
The Men and Alcohol report launched by Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems and the Institute of Alcohol Studies found both the mental and physical impact of alcohol-related harm are an issue, with men less likely to seek help for mental health problems.
The report also draws attention to the potential impact of Covid-19 on health behaviours and argues cuts to services in the wake of the pandemic may have a negative impact on alcohol-related harm.
It makes a number of recommendations for policy, including calls to strengthen restrictions on alcohol availability and to enforce bans on alcohol advertising, sponsorship and promotion.
Lindsay Paterson, interim director of SHAAP, said: "In Scotland, the alcohol-specific death rate for men was 2.2 times higher than women in 2018 and rates of alcohol-related stays in hospital were 2.5 times higher.
"These figures underscore the importance of understanding how alcohol use impacts on men's mental and physical health in particular ways if we are to tackle and reduce alcohol-related harms.
"It is difficult at the moment to know what the long-term impacts of Covid-19 will be on people's drinking behaviour and how these may intersect with issues of gender and/or marginalisation when it comes to people accessing alcohol treatment and recovery services.
"In all eventualities, this report highlights how we must not lose ground in the gains we've made in regulating alcohol in Scotland, as well as the crucial importance of investing in alcohol treatment and recovery services, in addition to improving youth services and opportunities for skills and learning development.''
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