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Binge Drinking, Crack & Methadone Misuse in Pregnancy-3 Successful Conferences!

Professor Ian Gilmore, President Royal College of Physicians speaking at Parents for Children's Conference in London on 11th March.

Parents for Children’s recent conferences on the Consequences for Children Affected by Maternal Drug & Alcohol Usage, were attended by over 300 professionals, parents and carers. This extremely good turnout shows the high interest in this growing nationwide problem. The first conference of the series commenced in Derby on 6th March, followed by two consecutive days in London on 11th and 12th March. The experts who spoke over the three conferences included:

Professor Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians;

  • Dr Raja Mukherjee, Consultant Psychiatrist and a UK leader in the field of foetal alcohol syndrome;
  • Professor Moira Plant, Professor of Alcohol Studies, University of the West of England, Bristol & Director of the Alcohol & Health Research Trust;
  • Professor Edward Riley, International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Neurodevelopmental Brain Expert from the US;
  • Dr Mary Mather, Consultant Community Pediatrician, Bexley Care Trust & Chair of the British Association of Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) Health Group 2000-2005.

Attendee’s ranged from Social Workers, parents and Drug & Alcohol Advisers to Paediatricians, Health Visitors and a Pregnancy & Neonatal Nurse, thus highlighting the multitude of professionals involved in this issue. Delegates heard some valuable information from the impressive array of speakers on the scale of the problem, the damage to the unborn baby and the impact for the rest of the child’s life. Means to help minimise the risks and to identify the long-term needs of these children and young people were discussed. Practical methods to optimise their development and to manage their challenging behaviour were also reviewed.Parents for Children will continue to raise the awareness of these issues by training the wide range of professionals and carers who need to know how to meet the needs of these children and young people, through their 2008-2009 conference programme.

For more information on Parents for Children’s conferences please contact Charlotte Lindsell on Tel-0207 520 2880 or email charlotte@parentsforchildren.org.uk

 

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