Pregnant Women Urged to Abstain from Alcohol

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day
Sunday, September 9, 2007

CHICAGO, September 7, 2007 – “If you are pregnant, don’t drink. If you drink, don’t get pregnant.” That’s the message Prevention First is sending out to women – warning them that even a single drop of alcohol could have adverse effects on their unborn babies.

In conjunction with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day, September 9, Prevention First is emphasizing a clear message to women who might be pregnant or plan to become pregnant to abstain from alcohol during conception and pregnancy.

“Fetal alcohol disorders are 100 percent preventable,” says Karel Ares, executive director of Prevention First. “The only way your child can suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome is if you drink during your pregnancy.” Since no known safe amount of alcohol can be consumed during pregnancy without impacting the development of the fetus, abstinence from alcohol is the only known prevention of FASD.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are reported to affect one in every 100 live births in the United States and describe a range of affects including cognitive and behavior problems caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Victims of fetal alcohol syndrome suffer from mental retardation, behavioral difficulties, learning disabilities, attention deficit, hyperactivity and low IQ.

In July 2005, Prevention First convened a task force to study the issue. The task force released a report in 2006 titled “Breaking the Cycle: Meeting the Needs of Children and Families Impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders,” which stated roughly 40,000 children are born in the U.S. every year with some form of birth defect as a result of alcohol use during pregnancy. Each year in Illinois there are potentially 9,000 children born with FASD.

Eleven-year-old Randy Rusnak of Chicago is one of them. Randy was diagnosed with FASD at the age of seven. From infancy, Randy’s adoptive mother Cathy Rusnak says, “there was something wrong with Randy. He is what I call developmentally late. Randy always has been on the cusp of average to a late-bloomer.” The boy’s basic grasp of boyhood activities such as riding a bicycle, playing football and social skills are often impeded by sudden outbursts of anger, frustration and exhaustion.

“Randy was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and was prescribed Ritalin,” says Cathy. However, his erratic behavior continued. He suffered from sensory integration disorder and vision problems. Rusnak says Randy even received occupational therapy to improve his motor skills, but it wasn’t until years later that he was diagnosed with fetal alcohol disorders.

Thousands of dollars and dozens of doctors later, Rusnak describes Randy’s condition as heartbreaking. “You want so much for your child, yet you know with FASD he can’t ever be like other kids.” And the frustration takes on a different toll for Randy, who at a young age can’t comprehend why he is different from his peers. “I know it frustrates Randy to know that he can’t compete athletically, academically and socially with his schoolmates and that in itself is devastating for a young boy,” adds Rusnak.

In March 2007, Rep. Paul Froehlich (R-Schaumburg) introduced House Joint Resolution (HJR) 41 seeking to create a statewide strategic plan for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. The bill passed the House in June.

Sen. Larry Bomke (R-Springfield) also supports the push for a statewide strategic plan. "I am pleased to be working with Prevention First to introduce legislation in the coming session," said Sen. Bomke. "We want to get the word out there that drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause physical and mental birth defects. Illinois should be doing everything we can to prevent this."

Bomke adds, "Every year, up to 40,000 babies are born with some degree of alcohol-related damage. This is simply not tolerable. Illinois should be doing everything that we can do to prevent this.”

In addition to a statewide plan, the task force report recommends a training program for physicians, educators and social service providers in the diagnosis and treatment of fetal alcohol disorders and the creation of a statewide public awareness campaign in Illinois.

Prevention First is working closely with Dr. Ira Chasnoff, M.D., Children’s Research Triangle, and the country’s foremost authority on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, to develop a self-learning curriculum.

Prevention First offers free fetal alcohol disorders materials through its Library and Clearinghouse. A workshop titled “Working with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Strategies for Educators” will be conducted Wed., Sept. 26, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., during Prevention First’s “Stronger Roots, Stronger Branches” conference at the Wyndham O’Hare in Rosemont, IL. Those interested in participating, can contact Prevention First at 800.252.8951, ext. 124.

For more information on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, visit www.prevention.org

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Media Calls:

Manju Batmanathan
312-988-4646 ext. 254 (Chicago)

Dorothy Hutchinson-Gross
217-793-7353, ext. 121 (Springfield)