Government urged to tackle foetal alcohol spectrum disorder

The HSE said in 2022 that about 600 babies are born each year in Ireland with foetal alcohol syndrome. File picture

The Government has been urged to introduce a strategy to tackle the growth of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, amid concern has not been recognised in the new national drugs strategy.

FASD is an umbrella term for conditions which can be caused by drinking alcohol while pregnant.

According to figures published by the World Health Organization in 2017, it is estimated about 600 babies are born each year in Ireland with the syndrome. Ireland ranked third out of 187 countries for prevalence of FASD, behind South Africa and Croatia.

The HSE said in a briefing document in 2022 that about 600 babies are born each year in Ireland with foetal alcohol syndrome, “with a further 9-10 times this number of babies born annually in Ireland who have other FASDs”.

It is also estimated up to 380,000 people with FASD are living in Ireland.

Among the indicators of FASD are ADHD, low body weight, poor co-ordination, poor memory, attention difficulties, difficulties in school (particularly around maths), and learning disabilities.

UCD School of Social Policy lecturer Nat O’Connor said: “Despite the seriousness of FASD, there is a lack of a policy response in Ireland beyond public health warnings not to drink while pregnant. 

"And even so, the introduction of pregnancy warnings on alcohol that were meant to begin in May this year have been postponed following pressure from the drinks industry.” 

Mr O'Connor said while some women drink before realising they are pregnant, “there are still too many people who are unaware of or who ignore the public health advice that there is no safe level of alcohol during pregnancy”.

“Countries such as Canada and Sweden have developed national strategies on FASD, and we should do the same here.” 

FASD Ireland, a group based in Ennis, Co Clare, said the drugs strategy states the lifelong consequences of prenatal exposure to drugs and alcohol will be addressed through the national maternity strategy, it does not name FASD or set out a dedicated programme of prevention, diagnosis, and lifelong support.

It said: “The national drugs strategy does not establish a national diagnostic pathway, FASD-specific data collection or measurable targets. Nor does it clearly assign responsibility, funding, and accountability for a co-ordinated response across health, disability, education, mental health, and social care.”