International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day

International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day

On September 9 each year, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) recognizes International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Day as a reminder that that there is no safe amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

FASD refers to the wide range of physical, behavioral, and cognitive impairments that occur due to alcohol exposure before birth (also known as prenatal alcohol exposure). These impairments may appear at any time during childhood and last a lifetime. Wear a silver and blue enamel awareness ribbon pin to raise awareness about International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day.

Wear a silver and blue awareness ribbon pin to raise awareness about International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day.

Do you enjoy a drink now and then? Many of us do, often when socializing with friends and family.

For anyone who drinks, this site offers valuable, research-based information. Letʼs take a look at your drinking patterns and how they may affect your health.

What are the U.S. guidelines for drinking?

The 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans states that adults of legal drinking age can choose not to drink or to drink in moderation by limiting intake to 2 drinks or less in a day for men and 1 drink or less in a day for women when alcohol is consumed. Drinking less is better for health than drinking more. There are some adults who should not drink alcohol, such as women who are pregnant. Adults who choose to drink, and are not among the individuals listed below who should not drink, are encouraged to limit daily intake to align with the Dietary Guidelines. People who do not drink should not start drinking for any reason.

When is drinking in moderation still too much? Learn More on International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day

According to the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, certain individuals should not consume alcohol.

It’s safest to avoid alcohol altogether if you are:

• Taking medications that interact with alcohol.
• Managing a medical condition that can be made worse by drinking.
• Under the age of 21, the minimum legal drinking age in the United States.
• Recovering from alcohol use disorder (AUD) or unable to control the amount you drink.
• Pregnant or might be pregnant.

In addition, certain individuals, particularly older adults, who are planning to drive a vehicle or operate machinery (or who are participating in activities that require skill, coordination, and alertness) should avoid alcohol completely.

What are the symptoms of alcohol use disorder? KNOW MORE on International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day

Having even a couple symptoms can signal a drinking problem. It helps to know the signs so you can make a change early. Doctors diagnose AUD when a patient has two or more of the symptoms listed below. AUD can be mild (the presence of two to three symptoms), moderate (the presence of four to five symptoms), or severe (the presence of six or more symptoms). And don’t worry. Even if you have symptoms, you can take steps to reduce your risk of AUD and other alcohol-related consequences. (For more information about AUD, see What Are the Consequences?)

In the past year, have you:

• Had times when you ended up drinking more, or longer, than you intended?
• More than once wanted to cut down or stop drinking, or tried to, but couldn’t?
• Spent a lot of time drinking, being sick from drinking, getting over other aftereffects?
• Wanted a drink so badly you couldn’t think of anything else?
• Found that drinking, or being sick from drinking, often interfered with taking care of your home or family? Or caused job troubles? Or school problems?
• Continued to drink even though it was causing trouble with your family or friends?
• Given up or cut back on activities that were important or interesting to you, or gave you pleasure, in order to drink?
• More than once gotten into situations while or after drinking that increased your chances of getting hurt (such as driving, swimming, using machinery, walking in a dangerous area, or engaging in unsafe sexual behavior)?
• Continued to drink even though it was making you feel depressed or anxious or adding to another health problem? Or after having had an alcohol-related memory blackout?
• Had to drink much more than you once did to get the effect you want? Or found that your usual number of drinks had much less effect than before?
• Found that when the effects of alcohol were wearing off, you had withdrawal symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, restlessness, nausea, sweating, a racing heart, dysphoria (feeling uneasy or unhappy), malaise (general sense of being unwell), feeling low, or a seizure? Or sensed things that were not there?

Symptoms and International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day

If you don’t have any symptoms, then staying within the limits provided in the 2020—2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans reduces your chances of having problems in the future. If you do have any symptoms, then alcohol may already be a cause for concern. The more symptoms you have, the more urgent the need for change. A healthcare professional can look at the number, pattern, and severity of symptoms to see whether AUD is present and help you decide the best course of action.

Note:
The questions listed above are based on symptoms of AUD in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. The DSM is the most commonly used system in the United States to diagnose mental health disorders.

Alcohol calculator – This is a great tool for calculating many attributes of alcohol consumption.