Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a diagnostic term for a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by exposure to alcohol before birth.

FASD causes harm to millions of children and their families in the developing world, and Aotearoa is no exception.

It is estimated between 1800 and 3000 children are born with FASD every year in this country. But as yet we have no coherent centralised health strategy, no active monitoring of FASD births and no access to disability support services for people with FASD, unless you also have an intellectual disability.

Unfortunately, many people don’t know about FASD. Here are some facts to help you better understand it and to hopefully encourage you to act in support of FASD children and their families.

Useful facts to know 

In 2020/21, around one in every five New Zealanders had a hazardous drinking pattern and data collected by the Ministry of Health suggests only half of all pregnancies were planned. We need to recognise that the problem of alcohol abuse is a societal one, and not stigmatise birth mothers of children with FASD.

Reactions to exposure to alcohol in the womb vary enormously and no one can predict a safe level of alcohol for developing fetuses.

The New Zealand Government initiated a three-year FASD action plan in 2016. One significant outcome is that the alcohol industry has until July 2023 to label all alcoholic products with the statement ‘Alcohol can cause lifelong significant harm to your baby’. 

The Ministry of Health estimates the annual cost of FASD to be $450 million with another $200 million per year in so-called “lost productivity”.

Up to a quarter of our current prison population of 8000 people are believed to have FASD.

We at Awhi Ngā Mātua support calls to prioritise research into the extent of FASD affected individuals in New Zealand. This would help to provide effective and targeted treatments to families impacted by FASD. 

More useful facts to know when it comes to our children:

Sometimes children with FASD cannot grasp ‘consequences’ – this is because of FASD not because they are innately ‘naughty’.

Many children with FASD bear no outward markers of the syndrome, which means frequently no allowances are made for the effects of the syndrome on their behaviour and development.

Children with FASD often have low self-esteem because they are frequently told off and punished for behaviour over which they have no control.

If a child with FASD gets a diagnosis before the age of six they have much improved outcomes in later life. 

Children with FASD thrive when treated with understanding and empathy. Improving knowledge of FASD in New Zealand’s education, justice and health sectors would go a great deal toward better understanding and more empathy.

For more on FASD check out the resources from the IHC Library, many of these can be read online. Or contact the IHC library directly to have a chat about what you need on 0800 442 442 or email: librarian@ihc.org.nz.