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FAS can be prevented

May 14 through 20 is recognized as Alcohol and Other Drug Related Birth Defects Awareness Week.

by Liz Puca
Institute of Psychiatry
Whenever a mother drinks, her baby is at risk for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, her baby does too. It is not clear whether there is a threshold amount of alcohol that must be consumed before damage to the baby occurs. There is also no proof that small amounts of alcohol are safe. 

FAS is the name given to a group of physical and mental birth defects that are the direct result of a woman's drinking alcohol during pregnancy. The defects can include mental retardation, growth deficiencies, central nervous system dysfunction, craniofacial abnormalities and behavioral maladjustment's.

If you drink wine, beer, or liquor when you are pregnant, your baby could develop FAS. A baby with FAS can suffer from mental retardation, central nervous dysfunction, organ dysfunction and facial abnormalities. These disabilities will last a lifetime. No amount of alcohol has been proven safe to consume during pregnancy. Some experts believe between one third and two-thirds of all children in special education have been affected by alcohol in some way.

There is no cure for FAS. Once the damage is done, it cannot be undone. However, FAS is the only cause of birth defects that can be completely prevented. 

The Center for Drug and Alcohol Program (CDAP) at MUSC Institute of Psychiatry encourages women not to drink during pregnancy. Also, if you are considering getting pregnant or trying to conceive you should not consume alcohol. 

For more information on CDAP, call 792-5200.