Number of children with FASD still growing

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At nine minutes after nine on the morning of Sept. 9, the bells of Knox Metropolitan United Church began to toll.

They tolled for about 40 people who silently bowed their heads in prayer in a corner of Victoria Park, and for the thousands of people, children and adults, across Canada, who suffer from Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

"We do this every year on the ninth day of the ninth month to recognize how long a baby lives in its mother before it is born," said Jason Koochicum, the demonstration's master of ceremonies, "and to recognize the need for a mother to remain alcohol-free through her pregnancy."

The ceremonies were all part of the commemoration of FASD Day, the sixth time it's been held in Regina.

FASD occurs when a pregnant woman drinks alcohol. The alcohol in her bloodstream is passed into the bloodstream of her unborn child.

The exposure to alcohol may result in brain damage to the child. As the child grows up, he or she may suffer from behavioural, mental and physical problems that can't be cured, only treated with varying degrees of effectiveness.

"It typically causes behavioural and learning difficulties in children and adults," said Kendra Strong Garcia, the FASD outreach co-ordinator for The Circle Project in Regina.

"Because it's a spectrum disorder, every afflicted child will be affected differently. They may have problems with time, money, in school with math and comprehension, attention deficit, sensitivity to light.

"As they grow older, and if they don't have an acknowledgement that they may have FASD, they have low self-esteem, unable to understand why they're not keeping up with their friends at school, why they're repeating the same mistakes over and over again."

About 20 of every 10,000 children born in Canada suffer from the effects of FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) which is the most advanced case of FASD. Another 100 of every 10,000 show various symptoms associated with FASD.

In Saskatchewan, that number is quite a bit higher: as many as one child in 100 may be afflicted with FAS.

Only about 10 per cent of people who are diagnosed with FASD are able to lead a normal life-hold down a job, establish a long-term relationship, and become a productive member of society, said Garcia.

For the other nine out of 10, the future is bleak, said Koochicum."Many people who suffer from FAS are unemployed, homeless or in jail."

Because the effects of FASD can be only treated, not cured, governments and social organizations have emphasized preventing the syndrome by encouraging pregnant women not to drink.

However, the number of reported cases of FASD increased in the 1990s, even after First Nations, Metis, and provincial governments began FASD awareness campaigns, urging pregnant women to stop drinking alcohol. Garcia couldn't say whether the increase meant the message wasn't getting through to women or that doctors were more willing to diagnose cases of the syndrome.

After the bells and speeches, Regina's Street Culture Kidz project put on a puppet show and a series of speeches and presentations were given.