Summary

• Alcohol use during pregnancy causes Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and is the leading preventable cause of neurodevelopment disorder.
• The prevalence of FASD in Ireland is estimated at 2.8-7.4% of the population.
• FASD is often an invisible disability and is associated with lifelong physical, mental, educational, social, and behavioural difficulties.
• FASD is preventable through avoiding alcohol during pregnancy.
• Effective actions to prevent FASD include public health measures targeting the price, availability and accessibility of alcohol, pregnancy warning labels on alcohol products, communications campaigns, routine screening and brief interventions by healthcare professionals, healthcare supports for pregnant women, training and professional development supports for staff, and research and public health surveillance. Timely diagnosis and treatment for children with FASD is required.
• This position paper outlines 14 actions for the HSE for the prevention of FASD and the response to children and adults with FASD.