The alcohol dosages used in the study were high in order to mimic heavy alcohol use during pregnancy. "Binge drinking is extremely important in terms of producing brain damage," said West. "For example, drinking four cans of beer in an hour can cause more damage than drinking six cans of beer over 12 hours." And even though researchers disagree about the incidence of children who are born with FAS, said West, "that number, whatever it may be, is just the tip of the iceberg."
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
FAS is the name given to a group of physical and mental birth defects caused by a woman drinking heavily during pregnancy. It is characterized by facial abnormalities, growth retardation, and central nervous system problems. Children with FAS may have problems with learning, memory, attention span, problem solving, speech, learning and behavior. FAS is an irreversible, lifelong condition.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of FAS is not known. Study results using different methods and data sources show prevalence rates for the United States that range from three to 22 cases per 10,000 births. This means that each year in the U.S., between 1,300 and 8,800 children are born with FAS. The National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome estimates that the institutional and medical costs for one child with FAS are $1.4 million during their lifetime.
"Almost everyone will agree that alcohol abuse during pregnancy is the biggest leading cause of mental retardation that we know about," said West. "But when people at cocktail parties ask me, 'How much can you drink and have it not cause damage,?' I have to answer that we don't know. The lower limit has not been determined."
"The data on lower level exposure is certainly equivocal," said Professor Edward
P. Riley
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Contact: James R. West, Ph.D.
jrwest@tamu.edu
409-845-4991
Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research
13-Oct-1999