 On September 9th each year, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) recognizes International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Day to raise awareness about the lifelong effects of FASD, and as a reminder that that there is no known safe amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. the United States, an estimated 1 to 5% of first graders have FASD. FASD refers to the collective lifelong physical, behavioral, and cognitive impairments that occur due to prenatal alcohol exposure. FASD-related impairments can range from mild to severe and contribute to a range of issues such as learning disabilities, speech and language delays, visual and hearing problems, problems with critical organs, and social challenges throughout a person's life. In addition to causing FASD, prenatal alcohol exposure also increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, and sudden infant death syndrome. At this time, it is appropriate to acknowledge the extensive contributions to FASD research of former NIAAA Acting Director Kenneth R. Warren, Ph.D., who recently passed away. Over his long career, Dr. Warren had a major role increasing support for basic, translational, and clinical research on FASD and developing federal health advisories about alcohol use during pregnancy. NIAAA continues to support a robust FASD research program to advance study of the mechanisms, prevention, early identification, and treatment of FASD, including approaches for reducing stigma, increasing awareness of FASD, and developing culturally appropriate interventions. These NIAAA FASD research priorities are highlighted prominently in the recently released NIAAA Strategic Plan as a Cross-Cutting Research Program. NIAAA also has resources to help the public understand the significance of prenatal alcohol exposure and FASD as well as the importance of prevention through resources such as Understanding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Alcohol and Your Pregnancy. For anyone experiencing problems with alcohol—especially people who are or might be pregnant and are finding it difficult to stop drinking—it is important to know that there are treatment options and resources that can help. Talking to a health care provider or visiting the NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator can be a good place to start. | 
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