Observing International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day
On September 9th, International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day helps raise awareness about the dangers of drinking while pregnant. Indeed, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) believes prevention is critical. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are a tragic outcome of alcohol consumption that happens way too often. Therefore, mothers-to-be need to know that there is no safe amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
As a provider of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and primary care services, Tarzana Treatment Centers (TTC) focuses on FASD from both ends of the spectrum. First, in TTC’s primary care services, we raise awareness of the dangers of alcohol use for expecting mothers and budding families. Second, drug and alcohol treatment services educate patients about what can happen when a mother drinks during pregnancy. Thus, we build bridges to prevent FASD effectively through education and awareness.
What Are Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders?
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders comprise the collective physical, behavioral, and cognitive impairments that are caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. Ranging from mild to severe, they lead to a variety of developmental issues, including the following:
- Learning Disabilities
- Speech Impediments
- Language Delays
- Visual and Auditory Issues
- Damage to Organ Functioning
- Ongoing Socialization Issues
Given the dangers to innocent lives, why do pregnant women still drink? National advertising and promotional campaigns raise awareness about the risks. Despite such efforts, the statistics have remained constant over the years. Indeed, pregnant women still roll the dice.
The Preventability of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Did you know prenatal alcohol exposure is a leading preventable cause of congenital disabilities in the United States? This truth needs to be underlined. Despite such a stark realization, pregnant women still drink.
As expressed by George Koob, Ph.D., the head of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, “Almost 40 years have passed since we recognized that drinking during pregnancy can result in a wide range of disabilities for children, of which fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is the most severe. Yet, 1 in 13 pregnant women report drinking in the past 30 days. Of those, about 1 in 6 report binge drinking during that time.”
Considering the threat, FASD Awareness Day offers people access to resources. Hence, please learn more about how prenatal alcohol exposure impacts health. NIAAA offers resources about alcohol and pregnancy, including a newly updated trifold brochure titled Alcohol and Your Pregnancy. Moreover, if you need primary care support or alcohol use disorder treatment services, please contact TTC today. We are here to help.