October 13, 2009 – The NCCAH has responded to the concern of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities about the prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder among Aboriginal peoples.

Our first report, released in 2009, concludes that the true extent of FAS and FASD in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations is not known. Despite a widespread perception that FAS/FASD are more prevalent in Canadian Aboriginal children than among non-Aboriginal children, report author Mike Pacey found that published estimates of prevalence are too methodologically diverse to provide a basis for Aboriginal-specific rates,

Moreover, some of the Canadian Aboriginal-specific published studies focus on higher-risk communities, which may in fact promote a perception of higher prevalence in the Aboriginal population. The NCCAH study notes that “substantial discord” exists between prevalence estimates available in the epidemiological literature and the experiential knowledge of many Aboriginal communities who feel FAS/FASD is a critical public health issue. It highlighted the importance of reconciling these perception through research addresses these methodological challenges, and that examines the critical role of socio-economic status on prevalence.

Two related studies have been completed since the release of this report. A study identifying knowledge gaps in FAS/FASD research from a life course perspective can help prioritize future research and improve understanding of how to address FAS/FASD in Aboriginal communities.

The second report is a systematic review of community-based interventions for children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and their families. ADHD is a condition that is often co-morbid in Aboriginal children diagnosed with FAS/FASD. Both reports are scheduled for release in the summer of 2010.