Message from the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health

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International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day

September 9, 2011

September 9^th marks International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day. As Minister of Health, I am committed to raising the profile of FASD and to supporting healthy pregnancy.

FASD describes the range of disabilities that result from prenatal alcohol exposure, including Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Partial FASD and Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder. FASD is the leading cause of developmental disability and birth defects among Canadian children, affecting as many as nine out of 1,000 births in Canada today.

The Government of Canada recognizes the effects that FASD has on Canadian families and society, and is committed to addressing its causes. Over the last five years, our Government has invested over $6 million in research towards FASD through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, which supports researchers across Canada. They are improving our understanding of FASD and helping find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disorder.

We also provide over $3 million annually to the Pan-Canadian FASD initiative. It brings together community, provincial, territorial and national-level organizations to prevent alcohol-related birth defects and developmental disabilities, and to improve the lives of those already affected by it. Another $16 million is invested annually to prevent FASD and support those affected in First Nation and Inuit communities. Those funds are for culturally-appropriate prevention and intervention programs.

Over the past year, our Government has supported the development of new resources to increase awareness about the harm of alcohol use during pregnancy. We are also helping policy makers and service providers understand the behaviour of children who have been affected by FASD, and the challenges associated with diagnosing FASD in adults.

The guidelines from the experts are clear: there is no safe amount of alcohol or safe time to drink it during a pregnancy. On this important day, I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all those who work to support those living with FASD. I hope all Canadians will remember that a healthy pregnancy is the first step toward giving a child a good start in life. For more information on FASD and healthy pregnancies, please visit the Public Health Agency of Canada website.

Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Health
Government of Canada