By Janet Christie, Parent of a Young Adult with FASD, and former FASD Key Worker
FASD Awareness Day
The first International FASD Awareness Day was held on September 9, 1999, at 9:09 a.m. in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. A small group of parents and community members wanted to raise awareness about the risks of drinking during the nine months of pregnancy. The symbolism of nines—the 9th day of the 9th month at the 9th hour—reminds us of the importance of nine months of alcohol-free pregnancy.
The idea spread, and now FASD Awareness Day is recognized around the world each year.
The statistics are alarming: FASD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disabilities in Canada, affecting an estimated 4% of the population—greater than Autism, Down Syndrome, and Cerebral Palsy combined. This makes having the discussion around drinking during pregnancy one of the most important conversations we can have.
A Brief History of FASD
Warnings about alcohol use in pregnancy go back thousands of years. In the Bible, Judges 13:3 records an angel advising a woman: “Behold, thou shalt conceive and bear a son: now drink no wine or strong drink.”
In the 1700s, artist William Hogarth captured the devastating effects of cheap gin in his famous lithograph Gin Lane. Historians believe the faces of mothers and children in this image may exhibit signs of what is now recognized as FASD.
In modern times, Dr. Paul Lemoine in France was the first to publish research linking alcohol use in pregnancy with birth defects in 1968. In 1973, researchers at the University of Washington described a group of children with shared physical traits and developmental delays, all born to mothers who drank during pregnancy. They named the condition Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) to describe the patterns observed in the children.
As research grew, it became clear that alcohol exposure can affect children in many ways, not always with visible physical traits. Today, the term Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is the diagnostic term used to describe the full range of brain- and body-based impacts. The effects vary from person to person, depending on the amount, timing, and pattern of alcohol use during pregnancy.
FASD: The “Invisible Disability”
Most individuals with FASD don’t “look different.” Without physical features, FASD is largely an invisible disability. Challenges often become apparent later, such as difficulty in school, problems following directions, or struggles with emotional regulation.
Because brain development happens throughout pregnancy, alcohol exposure at any stage can cause permanent and lifelong changes. Because the harm is invisible, children with FASD are often misunderstood, when in reality they are living with brains that were wired differently before they were even born.
Alcohol and Pregnancy Do Not Mix
There is no known safe amount, type, or time to consume alcohol during pregnancy. Alcohol passes directly to the baby through the umbilical cord and can cause serious, lifelong impairments.
- All types of alcohol are equally harmful, including wine and beer.
- Damage can occur even before a woman knows she’s pregnant.
- Experts agree: the safest choice is not to drink if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to conceive.
Is FASD 100% Preventable?
FASD is often misunderstood and surrounded by stigma and described as “the most preventable developmental disability.” While this phrase is common, it oversimplifies a very complex issue. It can fuel stigma and shame for women who struggle with alcohol use and ignores the realities of addiction, trauma, and systemic barriers.
Here are some realities:
- 40–50% of pregnancies are unplanned. Many women may drink before realizing they are pregnant.
- Addiction, trauma, and violence can make it extremely difficult to stop drinking without support.
- Alcohol marketing has targeted women for decades, leading to rising rates of alcohol use, catching up to men’s for the first time in history.
- Stereotypes are misleading. Research shows higher alcohol use among middle-class, educated, Caucasian women, despite stigma focusing on Indigenous or poor communities.
- Governments profit from alcohol sales, but very little revenue supports treatment and prevention.
- Mixed messages from society and even healthcare providers can leave women confused about what is safe.
- Alcohol is deeply woven into culture and glamorized—especially through music, glossy advertisements, and social media.
As long as alcohol and addiction exist, so will FASD. This is why prevention, compassion, and understanding must go hand-in-hand.
The Role of Fathers and Partners
A common question is about the father’s contribution. It is important to be clear: FASD is only caused by alcohol exposure during pregnancy. That means the condition itself results from the mother’s drinking.
However, CanFASD reports that a father’s or partner’s alcohol use still matters in important ways:
- Influence on the mother’s drinking: When men drink heavily, women are more likely to drink during pregnancy as well. A supportive, alcohol-free environment makes it easier for expectant mothers to stop drinking.
- Impact on fertility and pregnancy outcomes: A father’s alcohol use before conception has been linked to lower fertility, reduced success in reproductive treatments (like IVF), and increased risks of babies being born prematurely or underweight.
- Infant development: Some studies suggest that paternal alcohol use may be associated with higher rates of malformations and abnormal brain development in infants.
While fathers do not directly cause FASD, their drinking can contribute to poor outcomes and make it harder for mothers to maintain an alcohol-free pregnancy. Both parents play a crucial role in giving their baby the healthiest start possible.
Breaking the Cycle
For caregivers working with children who may have FASD, and for women who struggle with substance use, there are many ways to help break the cycle.
1. Examine Your Own Bias: We all carry beliefs about alcohol and substance use. To be effective helpers and advocates, we must acknowledge and set aside judgment and approach families with openness.
2. Plant Seeds: You never know what you say or how you interact with someone can help them. Even brief, positive interactions can “plant seeds” for change.
3. Be Patient: Mothers coping with trauma and addiction may be difficult to engage with. A kind word or gesture may have more impact than you realize—sometimes years later. It only takes one person to help effect change in another person.
4. Apply a Trauma-Informed Lens: Trauma and addiction deeply affect the brain. Shift from “What’s wrong with her?” to “What happened to her?” Being trauma-informed is not just a method or a clinical framework—it’s a way of being. Behaviours like defensiveness or substance use are often survival strategies, not moral failings. They are often a person’s best attempts to cope with overwhelming circumstances.
| Deficit-Based View | Trauma-Informed Reframe |
| What’s wrong with her? | What happened to her? |
| Manipulative | Difficulty identifying or asking to have needs met |
| Controlling | Trying to feel safe or assert power |
| Attention-seeking | Seeking connection in the only way she knows |
| Non-compliant | Trying to maintain autonomy in a system that disempowers |
When we change the frame, we change the story. And the story is where the healing begins.
5. Practice Empathy: Behind every diagnosis of FASD is a child who never chose this path and a mother who often never intended harm. Stigma fuels shame and prevents honest conversations.Responding with empathy opens the door to healing.
6. Don’t Take Acting Out Personally: Acting out is often rooted in trauma. The more severe the behaviour, the bigger the trauma. Separate the person from the behaviour. It’s not about you—it’s about their pain.
7. Set Boundaries: If a person has been drinking, boundaries are healthy and necessary. Communicate them when the person is sober.
“I will not talk to you if you have been drinking.
“I understand you are upset, but it is not all right to speak like that to me.
“I want to be here for you, but I can’t if you are rude to me.”
8. Use Respectful Language: Language matters. Say “person with a substance use disorder” instead of “addict.” Say “positive” or “negative” test instead of “clean” or “dirty.” Respectful words reduce stigma and support recovery.
Every small action matters. FASD Awareness Month is not about blame—it’s about prevention, compassion, and hope.
By talking openly and without judgment, we reduce stigma, help prevent new cases, and create a more supportive world for those already affected.
Awareness is not just knowledge—it is an act of love. This September, hold in your heart the mothers who struggle with substances, and the individuals and families who live with FASD every day—often invisibly.
References and Further Reading
BC Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health
Society of Gynecologists of Canada