Origin and Impact of FASD CAUSE OF FASD

The only cause of FASD is alcohol use during pregnancy. When a pregnant woman drinks, the alcohol crosses the placenta into the fetal blood system. Thus, alcohol reaches the fetus, its developing tissues, and organs. This is how brain damage occurs, which can lead to mental retardation, social and emotional problems, learning disabilities, and other challenges. No alcohol consumption is safe during pregnancy. In addition, the type of alcohol (beer, wine, hard liquor, wine cooler, etc.) does not appear to make a difference. PREVALENCE OF FASD FASD occurs in about 10 per 1,000 live births, or about 40,000 babies per year. FAS, the most recognized condition in the spectrum, is estimated to occur in 0.5 to 2 per 1,000 live births.4 It now outranks Dow