Mapping the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Continuum of Care Across the Military Health System

Introduction: Although a leading cause of developmental disability in the United States, many individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) do not receive a timely diagnosis, are misdiagnosed, or are never diagnosed. Prevention, diagnosis, and clinical management of FASD have not been previously studied in the U.S. Military Health System (MHS), where nearly 1 million of the nation’s children receive health care. To address this gap, we undertook an environmental scan of the clinical guidelines, services, programs, educational resources, and policies within the MHS pertaining to alcohol use (AU), AU disorder (AUD), prenatal alcohol exposure, and FASD. Materials and Methods: From March to June 2023, we undertook an environmental scan of MHS clinical guidelines, services, programs, educational resources, and policies that address AU, AUD, prenatal alcohol exposure, and FASD. Results: We identified multiple resources that attended to AU and AUD before and during pregnancy in the MHS. However, despite numerous resources for other neurodevelopmental disorders, we did not find any MHS-specific resources that address diagnosis and management of FASD. Conclusions: Findings suggest opportunities to raise awareness, educate providers, and improve guidelines, policies, and practices in the MHS.