DID YOU KNOW……

The destructive and irresponsible use of alcohol and other drugs costs North Carolina more than $5.5 billion annually.

Approximately 15% of the national health care budget is spent on treating conditions related to substance abuse, including alcohol!

FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME A tragic set of permanent physical, mental,

and behavioral birth defects that result when mothers drink alcohol during pregnancy

½ of infants from alcoholic mothers can develop FAS

Alcohol consumption causes birth defects in about 3 out of 1000

The most severe damage is done during the first trimester when heavy alcohol is being consumed

Often the mother does not know she is pregnant before the damage is done

When a mother drinks, her unborn child is exposed to alcohol.

When a mother consumes alcohol, it is absorbed into the bloodstream at the same rate for the infant as it is absorbed for the mother.

Ethanol – main ingredient has the toxic effect on the fetus.

FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME REQUIRES AT LEAST ONE FEATURE FROM EACH OF THE THREE CATEGORIES

Growth Retardation Abnormally small for age weight, length, and/or

head circumference Central Nervous System disorders

Abnormal brain functioning, delays in behavioral development, and/or intellectual impairment

At least one of the facial features

THE FACIAL FEATURES OFFETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME ARE:

Small eyelid openings Short, upturned nose Long upper lip (from nose to mouth) with a

thin red border and a deficient central groove Reduced size of the head

THE FACIAL FEATURES OFFETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME ARE:

Drooping eyelids Sunken nasal bridge Small jaw Failure of eyes to move in same direction

NORMAL FAS

CHILDREN WITH ALCOHOL-RELATED BIRTH DEFECTS TYPICALLY HAVE:

attention deficits language difficulties learning disabilities impulsive behavior poor judgment poor coordination irritability in infancy small brain

Narrow forehead

Short palpebral fissures

Small nose

Small midface

Long upper lip with

deficient philtrum

child with FAS

normalalcohol-exposed

mouse fetuses

The facial features of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome can be seen in both a child and a mouse fetus that were exposed to alcohol during development.

THE FACE OF A CHILDWITH FULL-BLOWN FAS

HAS FEATURES THATCAN BE CAUSED BY DAMAGE TO MIDLINE

STUCTURES.

MATERNAL ALCOHOL ABUSE IS THE LEADING

KNOWN CAUSE OF MENTAL RETARDATION

IN THE WESTERN WORLD

In the US, at least 5,000 infants with FAS are born each year

Alcohol can cause permanent damage to a baby before most women realize they are pregnant.

Pregnancy Complications Definitions

Premature Delivery A baby born before 37 complete weeksof pregnancy. Most pregnancies areabout 40 weeks.

Low Birth Weight Classified as a baby that weighs lessthan 5 pounds and 8 ounces. This canusually be attributed to the health ofthe mother during pregnancy.

Still Birth When the fetus dies in the womb orduring labor.

Sudden Infant DeathSyndrome

A condition when an infant suddenlydies without any cause that can befound through an investigation orautopsy. Usually the infant is sleepingand when the parents go to check onthe infant they find him/her dead.

EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL EXPOSURE CAN CAUSE DAMAGE DURING ALL STAGES OF PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT.

Pre-implantation: first 2 weeks Embryonic: 3-8 weeks after conception Fetal: from week 9 until birth

How much is too much ???

HOW MUCH ALCOHOL IS IN A DRINK?

12 oz beer = 5 oz wine = shot of liquor in a mixed drink

Each contains the same amount of alcohol and all can cause damage to a developing baby!

WARNING! Some drinks contain more than a “serving” of alcohol

Health advisories urge women who are planning pregnancy or who are pregnant not to drink alcohol!

DESPITE WARNINGS, FREQUENT DRINKING AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN APPEARS TO BE INCREASING

1 in 5 pregnant women drink alcohol at some time during her pregnancy.

Frequent drinking is defined as 7 or more drinks per week or 5 or more drinks on at least one occasion.

THERE IS NO KNOWN “SAFE” AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL THAT A PREGNANT WOMAN CAN DRINK AND NOT RISK DAMAGING HER BABY; THEREFORE, PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD NOT DRINK!

The amount and timingof maternal alcohol use determines the type and extent of resulting birth defects.

ALCOHOL-RELATED BIRTH DEFECTS ARE EXPENSIVE

The institutional and medical costs for one individual with FAS are estimated to be $1.4 million over a lifetime.

In the US, it is estimated that each year up to $9.7 billion is spent to help those with FAS

Alcohol-relatedbirth defects

last a lifetime.

ALCOHOL-RELATED BIRTH DEFECTS ARE 100% PREVENTABLE