‘No safe amount’: Push for more Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder awareness

Major landmarks will be lit up red for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) International Awareness Day on Monday. In New Zealand, there is ongoing concern about the lack of awareness of the harm caused by drinking whilst pregnant and children with FASD not getting support in schools. Whanganui resident Susan Edgecombe cares for her 13-year-old grandson with FASD regularly.

It first began showing up as a baby when he was slow to crawl, walk and experienced disruptive sleep patterns. As he grew older this transformed into impulsive and erratic behaviour and meant he could only be in school for a couple of hours each day..