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Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

This paper is dedicated to Dr. Joshua Oyekan for his dedication to the education of others.

Abstract

In recent years the public has been made aware of a syndrome called Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The syndrome has received publicity for many reasons including the fact that it is a completely preventable syndrome based on the pregnant mother's behaviors. The syndrome causes disabilities for the children and in recent court hearings mothers have been facing charges for causing the syndrome in their children. It is a life long syndrome that cannot be reversed once it is achieved. The public has a responsibility in trying to prevent the syndrome from occurring. The public pays the price each time it happens in the way of funding special education needs, funding welfare checks and funding the cost of foster care. It is in the public's best interest to use education and legal means to stop the incidence of fetal alcohol syndrome.

Chapter One
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a lifelong yet completely preventable set of physical, mental and neurobehavioral birth defects associated with alcohol intake during pregnancy. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, according to many physicians is the leading cause of birth defects and developmental disabilities in the United States today. Douglas A. Milligan states that, "FAS" is the single greatest cause of mental retardation in the U.S. today"(Seachrist 1994). The purpose of this paper is to warn women of the effects of alcohol on their unborn child, to educate the public, and to help others understand what fetal alcohol syndrome is.
The term Fetal Alcohol Syndrome was created to describe the pattern of the defects found in children born to alcoholic women. It was extremely clear and discrete in the detection of itself and was distinct from all other patterns of malformation in the fetus. Being further studied in the 1970's under the heading as a birth defect that occurs, FAS was one of the most common causes of...