Ireland among top five countries for alcohol use during pregnancy 

Ireland is ranked as one of the top five countries in the world for the prevalence of both alcohol use during pregnancy and foetal alcohol syndrome. 

The number of pregnant women presenting with opioid addiction at a specialist clinic has fallen in recent years, but the numbers presenting with other drug and alcohol addictions has risen in the same period.

The finding is included in a review of 10 years of work at the DOVE Clinic in the Rotunda Hospital, which notes that Ireland is ranked as one of the top five countries in the world for the prevalence of both alcohol use during pregnancy and fetal alcohol syndrome.