Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Everything you need to know about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders!

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) that are caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy: FAS: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Symptoms include small head/body, facial characteristics, brain damage FAE: Fetal Alcohol Effects Symptoms usually not visible, such as behavior disorders, attention deficits ARBD: Alcohol Related Birth Defects Anomalies such as heart defects, sight/hearing problems, joint anomalies, etc. ARND: Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders Disorders such as attention deficits, behavior disorders, obsessive/compulsive disorder, etc.

FASD in a Nutshell FASD is the leading known cause of mental retardation.(AMA) Most individuals with FASD have normal intelligence.(FADU) FASD causes serious social and behavior problems.(FADU) Each year in the US 5,000 babies are born with FAS (1/500).(NOFAS) Five times as many are born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).(FADU) No amount of alcohol is known to be safe during pregnancy.(March of Dimes) Alcohol causes more damage to baby than any other drug.(Institute of Medicine) More American babies are born with FAS than with Down Syndrome, MD, and HIV combined.(NOFAS) FAS and related conditions are 100% preventable.(March of Dimes)

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For more information on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, visit
FAS Community Resource Center
and
www.fasstar.com
Last update: May 24, 2003