Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is the medical diagnosis used to describe the range of harms that can result from prenatal alcohol exposure. FASD is often found in combination with a range of other health and social problems faced by pregnant women. These harms can include vision and hearing problems, as well as slow growth and brain
damage that result in lifelong problems with attention, memory, reasoning and judgment.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a leading known cause of developmental
disability in Canada. As important as this issue is, effective prevention remains a key
challenge.
This resource describes what has been learned about prevention of FASD in the course of implementation of health promotion and prevention strategies across Canada. It outlines a four-part framework for FASD prevention and promotion of women’s and children’s health which has been identified by a group of Canadian experts as they have developed and evaluated FASD prevention initiatives at the community, provincial/territorial and
national levels. This prevention resource reflects a pan-Canadian vision for both preventing FASD and improving the outcomes for those who are already living with it.
