Can Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Be Prevented?
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is 100% preventable if a woman does not use alcohol while she is pregnant. Indeed, FAS is the most commonly known preventable birth defect that results in mental retardation. How are FAS and FASD Related? FAS is a cluster of permanent, non-curable birth defects. It is characterized by significant deficits in growth, facial anomalies, and brain dysfunction that result from the use of alcohol during pregnancy. FASD is the umbrella term for any confirmed prenatal alcohol exposure, including FAS. See for more information. How Common is FAS in New Jersey? It is difficult to provide specific estimates on how often FAS and FASD occur, but conservative estimates indicate that FAS occurs in 1 to 3 children per 1,000 live births, and FASD occurs in as many as 5 to 10 children per 1,000 live births. FAS occurs twice as often as Spina Bifida and five times more often than Down syndrome. Down syndrome and Spina Bifida, the two of the most commonly recognized birth defec
