Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

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Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

According to Seaver, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is birth defects causing learning, and behavioral problems in individuals whose mothers drank alcohol during pregnancy. This disorder is very serious, yet it is recognized as one of the most preventable. This causes major issues, when something so serious could be prevented but is not. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a problem because it leaves a permanent effect on the unborn child, but some solutions could be educating women and putting up more informational posters and warning labels on products.

As a result of pregnant women drinking, there have been a profuse amount of children born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Armstrong and Abel confirm that it wasn’t until 1973 when it was discovered as a disorder. This shows that for decades prior, women that drank while pregnant were unaware of the dangers. Prior to this discovery there had been anti-drinking movements across the world, because it was believed that alcohol was the reason for the increase in poverty and crime, as pointed out by Armstrong and Abel. This helped in determining FAS as a disorder. There were two different events or problems in society that led to the realization of the dangers associated with drinking while pregnant. One of them being the change in drinking age caused by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) as well as states lowering their blood alcohol content levels. The other realization was child victimization, society was disgusted when they saw or heard about children that had been abused; physically or emotionally. So when it became known that alcohol affected the helpless child in the womb it was normal for the people to be upset about it. What really got people’s attention was the S...

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...Elizabeth R. Sowell. "Focus On: Structural And Functional Brain Abnormalities In Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders." Alcohol Research & Health 34.1 (2011): 121-131. Health Source - Consumer Edition. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

Perlstein, David, MD. "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Symptoms, Causes, Treatment." Onhealth. Ed.

William C. Shiel Jr., MD. Medicine Net Inc., Web. 09 Dec. 2013. .

Seaver, Laurie Heron. "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome." The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders. Ed. Brigham Narins. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 461-464. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.
Warren, Kenneth R., Brenda G. Hewitt, and Jennifer D. Thomas. "Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Research Challenges And Opportunities." Alcohol Research & Health 34.1 (2011): 4-14. Health Source - Consumer Edition. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

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