More than 17.6 million U.S. citizens – one in 12 – abuse alcohol or are alcohol dependent. When we hear the phrase “alcohol abuse” we often think about issues like alcoholism, drunk driving and underage drinking. If you’ve been following state politics, cuts to Florida’s substance abuse programs may even come to mind.
Less talked about are those individuals who never take a sip of alcohol, yet whose lives are permanently affected by the decision to drink during pregnancy. Yes, we’re talking about babies.
Protect your baby: don’t drink while pregnant.
Unfortunately, when a mother drinks during pregnancy, so does her baby. Have you ever heard of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)? It’s a term used to describe the possible effects than can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy, and it’s becoming a growing issue in communities nationwide.
And while it sounds like common knowledge, you might be surprised at the amount of misinformation that exists about the harmful effects of drinking during pregnancy. Surprisingly, even many health professionals tell their patients that one or two drinks during pregnancy won’t harm their babies. The truth is that no alcohol, regardless of type, amount or frequency, has been proven safe to drink while pregnant.
Did you know?
- As many as 40,000 babies are born each year with FASD.
- FASD is the leading known preventable cause of developmental delays and birth defects and a leading known cause of learning disabilities.
- FASD affects one in 100 infants each year – more than autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida and sudden infant death syndrome combined.
The good news is, while not curable, FASD is 100 percent preventable, and it’s really easy for all of us to be a part of the solution to this problem. All we have to do is share with our friends and loved ones that no amount of alcohol is safe to drink while pregnant.
If you’d like to share this message with members of your community, you can find more information on FASD and Florida’s current outreach campaign at www.fasd-fl.org.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month. What better time to raise awareness about the dangers and myths associated with drinking while pregnant?