Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders prevention and clinical guidelines research - workshop report

It is estimated that up to 1 in 20 people in the United States may have a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), or the array of physical, cognitive, emotional, and social disorders caused by exposure to alcohol during prenatal development (May et al., JAMA 319:474-82, 2018). While this condition is present in a broad range of individuals and families, it has not previously been examined in the military community, where cultural factors including an increased prevalence of alcohol misuse may pose a unique set of challenges (Health.mil, Alcohol misuse, 2024).The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), in conjunction with FASD United, hosted the second annual Workshop on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Prevention and Clinical Guidelines Research on 20 September 2023 in Washington, DC. Organized as part of a four-year, federally-funded health services research initiative on FASD in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Military Health System (MHS), the workshop provided a forum for exploring the initiative's focus and progress; examining current knowledge and practice in the research and clinical spheres; and identifying potential strategies to further improve prevention, screening, diagnosis, interventions, and family support. Building off of the 2022 workshop that covered the state of the science surrounding prenatal alcohol exposure and FASD, the 2023 focused primarily on FASD and efforts aimed at identification and management (Koehlmoos et al., BMC Proc 17 Suppl 12:19, 2023). One hundred and thirty attendees from academia, healthcare, federal agencies, and patient advocacy organizations gathered to share research findings; learn from lived experiences; and discuss initiatives to advance research, screening, and services for at-risk pregnant women as well as families and caregivers supporting individuals with FASD.