In early September, La Réunion marked International FASD Awareness Day with a wide communication campaign and a major inter-regional conference. The Centre de Ressources TSAF, which is the only specialised resource centre in France focused solely on alcohol and pregnancy, coordinated the work together with the CHU de La Réunion and the Fondation Père Favron. Their goal was simple and urgent. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders remain a significant public health issue on the island, where one child with FASD is born every two days and almost a quarter of women report drinking during pregnancy.

The campaign, known locally as “Si ou ve in ti baba, arèt lalkol,” ran across the island between late August and mid-September. It included posters near schools, messages on buses, radio spots and social media communication. The team also set up stands during local community events to reach families directly. The message was consistent across all formats. Alcohol harms the developing brain at every stage, from pre-conception to breastfeeding, and zero alcohol is the only way to prevent these lifelong disabilities.

Alongside the public campaign, professionals from health, education, social services, addiction care and the justice sector gathered on 5 September for a full day conference in Saint-Paul. The theme was “TSAF, from planning a pregnancy to adulthood,” reflecting how FASD affects every stage of a person’s life. Representatives from the ARS, the Prefecture and the Region attended, underlining the political commitment behind the work. The purpose of the meeting was to strengthen detection, improve support for families and ensure that children affected receive the attention they need.

Work with young people was another major part of the initiative. Through a partnership with the Rectorat, several colleges on the island carried out activities under the project “A brain is built without alcohol,” teaching students why alcohol before age 25 can interfere with brain development. Educational tools were created and targeted prevention sessions were held. By combining a wide public campaign with professional training and youth education, La Réunion used this year’s awareness day to show how prevention can be practical, local and rooted in community life.

Find more from ARS La Réunion (France, September 2025)