What is Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome (FAS)?
The alcohol a pregnant woman drinks crosses the barrier of the
placenta and can cause birth defects by affecting the growth and
proper formation of the fetus. The brain and central nervous
system of the unborn child are particularly sensitive to
disorders caused by alcohol.
Although the effects of alcohol depends on the amount and the
timing, prenatal exposure can lead to long-term developmental
disabilities. The medical diagnosis of FAS includes: intrauterine
growth deficiency; small head size; abnormal eye, mouth, ear, and
facial malformations; and central nervous system dysfunction
(evidenced by developmental delay, hyperactivity, problems in
attention and Teaming, and intellectual deficits). Fetal Alcohol
Effects (FAE) is a condition where some but not all four effects
occur.
FAS is the number one cause of mental retardation in the U.S.
and the third leading cause of all birth defects (1).
FAS is irreversible--the damage is permanent.
In Minnesota, more than 500 babies per year are affected by
FAS/FAE (2). The cost for special services over the lifetime of
one person with FAS is estimated at $1.4 million (3).
FAS costs Minnesotans over $42 million each year (4).
A higher percentage of Minnesotans use alcohol than the
national average. In Minnesota, 75% of adults 18-25 years old use
alcohol. The national figure is 65% for the same age group (5).
There is no safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy. The
extent of the damage depends on the amount and timing. There is
risk of damage from even a small amount of alcohol.
The Opportunity for Minnesota:
What Can Be Done?
1. Incentives for collaboration and coordination are needed.
No new bureaucracy is needed. The Legislature could provide
incentives to encourage program coordination between the
Department of Human Services and the Office of Drug Policy.
Together, the two departments could expand statewide prevention
clearinghouse functions and assist all sectors of society in
prevention, information sharing, and training.
2. New legislation is needed.
Screening of females of
childbearing age would be an important step in prevention. For
example, a non-intrusive, four-question screening process has
been suggested by physicians at the Wayne State University to
detect females who will drink enough to damage their babies.
These people can then be referred to counseling before they
become pregnant (6). Minnesota groups are reviewing existing
screening tools to determine the most effective.
Improvement of planning and case management to meet
educational needs of FAS/FAE children is essential. Research is
needed to determine appropriate management techniques. Training
is needed for school administrative personnel and teachers.
3. New Regulations are needed.
Expectant mothers must not be excluded from state-funded
alcohol treatment centers. Significant barriers to providing
treatment are:
1. lack of child care;
2. many expectant mothers do not have insurance to pay for
treatment; and
3. providers are unwilling to treat pregnant women.
Separate counseling specifically for pregnant women is needed.
Many drug-dependent women do not fare well in coed treatment
programs due to previous abuse by a male partner or family
member.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is 100% preventable. However, only 55%
of women of childbearing age have heard of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
(7).
FAS and FAE ARE PREVENTABLE.
We must raise public awareness, provide alcohol/drug treatment
services, and educate professionals about alcohol effects.
For children born with FAS/FAE prevention is no longer
possible.
Effective Prevention is Community
Wide and Comprehensive
PREVENTION MEANS a public education campaign that treats
FAS/FAE as a major health problem rather than just another
by-product of greater social ills. This will require
collaboration of social service and health agencies, children and
family support networks, schools, churches, the business
community, and other community groups. State government could
provide incentive grants for such activity.
PREVENTION MEANS continuous and age-appropriate education.
This must begin when a child enters school and continue through
to graduation. The whole community must be inundated with
information: billboards, radio ads, and better warning
information where alcohol is sold.
PREVENTION MEANS youth centers and family centers to provide
immediate counseling for expectant mothers who have questions or
need direction.
Footnotes
1 Focus on Alcohol Abuse, Briefing for Minnesota
Broadcasters Association, C. Turnure, 1990.
2 Fetal Alcohol Syndrome - Fetal Alcohol Effects, University of
Minnesota, R. tenBensel, 1991.
3 "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome," N. Satterlee, Innovative,
Interdisciplinary Problem Solving in Developmental Disabilities,
The Institute for Disabilities Studies, August, 1990. 4 Parker,
D.L., Shultz, I.M., and Genz, L., Review and Cost of Alcohol
Abuse in Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Minnesota Department
of Health, 1985.
5 Focus on Alcohol Abuse, Briefing for Minnesota Broadcasters
Association, C. Turnure, 1990.
6 Perennial Education, Inc., "Preventing FAS"
(videotape), 1989. 7 U.S. Office of Substance Abuse Prevention
References
Zero to Three, National Center for Clinical Infant
Programs, Volume 13, No. 1, August/September 1992. NCADD Fact
Sheet: Alcoholism, Other Drug Addictions and Related Problems
Among Women, National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence,
Inc., New York, NY.
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1992 issue (4th of 5
issues)