There is no proven safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a group of conditions that can occur in a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. FASD is 100% preventable.
Source: CDC, 2019 https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) -characterized by abnormal facial features, growth deficiencies, and central nervous system problems (neurological, functional, and/or structural) in those exposed in utero to alcohol Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND) – characterized by neurological, structural, and/or functional problems (including behavioral and/or cognitive abnormalities) in those exposed in utero to alcohol
Alcohol-Related Birth Defects (ARBD ) – characterized by problems with the heart, kidneys, bones, and/or hearing in those exposed in utero to alcohol.
• Fetal Alcohol Exposure is the most preventable cause of developmental
disabilities/leading known cause of preventable intellectual disability.
• According to the CDC, FASDs impact as many as 1 in 20 in the US
• US prevalence studies estimate the avg cost to the US for FASDs is $205 billion per year ($17.94 billion cost per year in TX) in health care, special education, residential care,
productivity losses, and correctional costs.
• A 2017 study showed in 1000 babies born in TX, 8% were alcohol exposed within 30 days prior to birth
• The study sample included an equal number of males and females, 47.8%
non-Hispanic white, 40.8% Hispanic, 6.6% African American, and 4.8% Asian
infants
• The highest prevalence was observed in mostly urban, high-median income
regions
Impact of exposures varies from individual to individual • Vulnerability of a particular fetus
• Mother’s and father’s genetics
• Maternal Factors: nutrition, age, health
• Amount and frequency matter
• Has mother had a previous child who was exposed to alcohol or other drugs?
• Access to diagnostic assessments are difficult
http://www.fascenter.samhsa.gov/publications/reachToTeach.cfm
