Damage is lifelong

Page 8

Susie misbehaves so often at school that she's had 15 suspensions already this year. Skye has a pointed chin, misshapen ears and is small for his age. The kids tease him and he responds by shouting and hitting. Phoenix frequently asks the teacher to repeat her solutions of math problems, causing the other kids to call him a dummy.

These unhappy and frustrated children are all students with FASD-Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Their mothers drank alcohol when they were pregnant. FASD is permanent and these children will have problems throughout their entire lives.

"The only way to ensure this won't happen to your baby is for you to not drink at all during your pregnancy," said Michele Watkins, research officer at the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission's Edmonton office. Women and girls who may be pregnant or considering motherhood can be assured that the chances are high of brain damage ranging from mild disability to severe retardation if the unborn baby is exposed to alcohol in the prenatal stage.

Typical symptoms of FASD include high activity levels, problems learning in school, speech impairments, social problems, poor memory, difficulty adjusting to changes in routine, poor co-ordination, as well as eating and sleeping problems.

A diagnosing tool that is used among the various agencies dealing with FASD categorizes the different levels of impairment as FASD, Partial FASD, Alcohol-Related Birth Defects, and Alcohol-Related Neuro-Developmental Disorder. All carry similar characteristics but the extent of the disability varies and all confirm maternal alcohol exposure.

"Expectant women are constantly urged by well-meaning friends and family members who want them to enjoy a party or social gathering to consume an alcoholic beverage. These friends cite instances of other pregnant women who have consumed alcohol and the infant was not born with FASD symptoms," Watkins said. "However, we don't know exactly when or why it happens. It's totally unknown. It could happen if pregnant women drink a little or a lot, or drink early in the pregnancy or in the later months. We have no idea of what effect it could have. It's simply safer to cease drinking totally."

A Statistics Canada Canadian Community Health Survey in 2001 found that 19 per cent of girls ages 12 to 19, 26 per cent ages 20 to 24, and 19.9 per cent ages 20 to 34 consumed five or more drinks on each occasion 12 or more times per year. Prenatal consumption even at low levels can have an effect on the fetus with as little as one drink per week.

"These figures include members of all heritage groups, races, nationalities and social status," added Watkins. "The incidence of FASD appears in them all."

Further compounding the problem is the fact that many women are two or three months pregnant before they find out. Given the prime childbearing age range that coincides with the desire of young people to party, the odds are very high that about 20 per cent of babies have been exposed to multiple episodes of high levels of alcohol in the first trimester. The vast majority of the girls and women are not alcoholics, but rather young people enjoying a social time with peers.

It's natural to want to be part of the group and enjoy alcoholic beverages in a party atmosphere, but there's ways to participate that are safe.

"Children's Services launched a program last year called Mocktails, which teaches how to order and make virgin beverages that have no alcohol at all," said Watkins. De-alcoholized wines and bubbly are also available in Canada, as are near-beers, although both still may contain up to 0.5% alcohol. Mocktails are probably the safest, and a great selection of non-alcoholic mixed drinks that look and taste like cocktails, but without the alcohol, are always fun to serve and can be enjoyed by guests of all ages. A sampling of recipes that include blending frozen raspberries, strawberries and grape juice and other ingredints can be found by asking at liquor stores or searching on the Internet. Flavored and sparkling waters have been a trendy favorite for years, with mildly flavored effervescent clear beverages like strawberry-melon, blackberry, cherry and grape easily available in supermarkets and bars.

A recent study in the United States of pregnant women who drank during their pregnancy found that their doctor did not warn 46 per cent of them about the dangers.

"It's vital that everyone get behind this initiative to educate the mothers of tomorrow. FASD is preventable. Together we can stop it now."