Antenatal alcohol use is the leading preventable cause of birth defects, growth restriction and neurodevelopmental disorders, yet half of all pregnant women report drinking during pregnancy FAS and alcohol-related birth defects combined are estimated to be 10 per 1000 births or 1% of all births in some studies. The main objectives are a safe pregnancy with a healthy baby and mother. - the welfare of the unborn child and the mother is paramount. Promotion of engagement with substance misuse treatment and antenatal care within a coordinated multidisciplinary team is key. This session will cover the use of assessment, psychological and pharmacological interventions.

The use of assessment instruments (T-ACE, AUDIT and TWEAK) and biomarkers will be discussed. Brief interventions have been recommended as the first step in approaching people with mild-to-moderate alcohol problems. Since here is no research data available specifically on the impact of and pharmacological treatments for stabilisation, detoxification, reduction, maintenance and relapse prevention during pregnancy, good practice will be outlined. This includes psychological support and the psychosocial context. These complex clinical decisions depend on degree of dependence, polysubstance misuse, social stability and support network, and stage of pregnancy and must be individualised to the patient's needs. Some appreciation as to how to weigh the benefits against the potential risks with no obvious medical or social contraindication to the therapies will be discussed.