COMPREHENSIVE APPROACHES TO THE DIAGNOSIS, SCREENING AND PREVENTION OF FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME IN NEW JERSEY

Integrated efforts by state, academic and private organizations in New Jersey to improve the diagnosing and prevention of fetal alcohol syndrome disorders (FASD) that have developed over the past ten years are reviewed and discussed. The recent funding and development of State funded FASD Diagnostic Centers throughout New Jersey and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded Northeast Regional FAS Education & Training Center located at the New Jersey Medical School has led to improvement of efforts to survey and educate health professionals regarding FAS. This has also lead to improved referrals for FASD related diagnosis and treatment. The creation of a patient referral database for the State Diagnostic Centers is discussed and initial data presented for the year 2002 in New Jersey, supporting previous CDC estimates of FAS prevalence. etal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is the leading preventable cause of mental retardation and other disabilities in the United States. The estimate of its prevalence varies from 0.5 to 3.0 per 1,000 live births wit