The document discusses several key points around alcohol abuse and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD): 1) Experts interviewed on a radio program about alcohol abuse failed to mention the devastating effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on fetal development. 2) Prenatal alcohol exposure can have epigenetic effects that interfere with gene functions for life, increasing risks of addiction and other consequences. 3) Hundreds of thousands are spent annually on addiction treatment and research, but this work ignores the role of prenatal alcohol exposure. 4) While Canada recognizes 1 in 100 babies are prenatally exposed to alcohol, few receive an FASD diagnosis, leading to tragic outcomes of mental illness, homelessness,

1. “I’m alone in my house. I’m out on the town. I’m at the bottom of
the bottle, I’ve been knocking them down. I can’t get back up on
my feet to see the lights on the street like stars. But look what I
found. Look what I found. Another piece of my heart just laying on
the ground.”
Film: A star is born. 1018

2. Cross Country Checkup CBC, Canada.
10th Dec. 2017.
I have been listening today to the subject of alcohol abuse. The
experts interviewed described in detail the consequences and
risks involved. Yet they failed to mention the most important
factor: prenatal alcohol exposure. If these devastating
consequences of alcohol abuse occur in the adult how much
more will the developing fetus be affected.

3. Concerning genetics and addiction: what was not mentioned was
the epigenetic effects of prenatal alcohol on the developing fetus.
The functions of genes are interfered with for the life of the
individual, with numerous consequences: including "addiction".
"Addictions" is an industry with hundreds of thousands of dollars
spent annually on treatment and research, with no significant
impact. The research and treatment ignores the role of prenatal
alcohol, as demonstrated by the experts who were interviewed
not mentioning it.
The government of Canada recognizes that one in one hundred
babies have been exposed to alcohol prenatally: yet few receive
the diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, with tragic
consequences of mental illness, homelessness and addictions.
One last point- those with the neurological disabilities of FASD do
not take alcohol and drugs for pleasure. They take them for relief.
A paradigm shift in thinking yet to be accepted by the addiction
industry. Barry Stanley