Who We Are

Fetal Alcohol And Drug Unit
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
University of Washington School of Medicine

The Fetal Alcohol and Drug Unit is a research unit dedicated to the prevention, intervention and treatment of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE). Our main goals are to conduct research on fetal alcohol and drug effects across the life span, to disseminate information on fetal alcohol and drug effects, to provide consultation for persons of any age thought to be affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol, and to provide training in human behavioral teratology.

Over the past thirty-three years, our work has focused on research to identify and examine the effects of prenatal alcohol and drug exposure across the life span, with particular emphasis on FAS and FAE, and on interventions with high-risk mothers who abuse alcohol and drugs. Our focus includes prevention and intervention projects on an individual and community basis and multidisciplinary population-based and clinical follow-up studies. The unit also provides staffing and curricula for workshops, invited lectures and conferences on FAS/FAE prevention and intervention at the regional, national and international level.

The Fetal Alcohol and Drug Unit is staffed by a diverse group of more than forty individuals including faculty, professional and classified staff, postdoctoral fellows, undergraduate and graduate students, interns, volunteers, visiting scholars, and consultants who are dedicated to the prevention, intervention, and treatment of fetal alcohol and drug effects.