Senate Bill to Combat Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Draws Praise
For Immediate Release
July 30, 2004
Washington, D.C. -- The National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS) expressed its support for a proposed legislation addressing fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) introduced by Senate Minority Leader Thomas Daschle last Thursday. Commending the prevention and treatment components of the bill, NOFAS President Tom Donaldson said, "The Daschle bill recognizes the prevalence of these terrible disorders and includes education, health care and justice components that are essential to effective treatment."
Introduced by Sen. Daschle on July 22, the "Advancing FASD Research, Prevention and Services Act" calls for increased focus on the identification of individuals with FASD through neuroimaging techniques, development of pharmaceutical treatments, and isolation of genetic markers for the disorders. Experts estimate that 13 percent of women continue to drink through their pregnancies, contributing to the birth of 40,000 infants annually with FASD. Prenatal alcohol exposure is the leading cause of mental retardation.
The longtime leading congressional advocate for bolstering the federal response to prenatal alcohol exposure, Senator Daschle introduced a bill that disseminates information about best practices to facilities that treat children and adults with FASD, including community health centers, juvenile justice centers and special education programs. The proposal authorizes grants to be distributed to state, tribal and local organizations to develop better methods of treatment and curricula to educate young people about the dangers of drinking during pregnancy.
The lifetime cost of treating a child with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is an estimated $860,000, totaling about $5.4 billion annually. These costs accumulate because of the high need for special education, rehabilitation and even incarceration.
"Research over the past 30 years has consistently demonstrated the devastating effects of prenatal alcohol exposure," said Adam Litle, NOFAS director of government affairs. "By focusing directly on FASD through prevention, surveillance and treatment, this legislation prevents further waste of services that do not directly address the needs of children with FASD."
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