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NOFAS Applauds Maryland Lawmakers for Taking Action
to Combat Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
May 11, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Adam Litle, Director of Government Affairs or
Tom Donaldson, President
(202) 785-4585
ANNAPOLIS, MD—The National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS) today applauded Maryland lawmakers for taking action to combat fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). This praise comes following a ceremony at the State House, during which Governor Ehrlich signed into law a bill promoting a public awareness campaign dedicated to preventing FAS.
"This is a big step forward in the fight against fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD)," said Tom Donaldson, President of NOFAS. "With 40,000 babies born with FASD each year, it's clear that the message is not getting across. By calling public attention to the dangers of mothers drinking while pregnant and reaching out to at-risk populations, Maryland lawmakers are taking a bold stand for the health and wellness of future generations."
The bill, titled—Public Health—Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention—Public Awareness Campaign, requires the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, in collaboration with other State agencies, to establish and promote a public awareness campaign to prevent FAS. It was sponsored by Delegate Pauline Menes of Maryland District 21 and passed unanimously by the General Assembly. Among the goals of this prevention and awareness campaign is the dissemination of information about FAS and FASD through written materials, television, radio, and posters; the distribution of informational materials free of charge to prenatal clinics and to establishments that serve alcoholic beverages; and outreach to the general public and specific populations determined to be at high risk.
"Everyone wants to think that FAS is something that affects other people," said Kathy Tavenner Mitchell, Vice President of NOFAS and birth mother of a child with fetal alcohol syndrome. "But when roughly one out of every 100 babies born each year in this country has birth defects caused by prenatal drinking, it's a problem that affects us all. That's why this new public awareness campaign in Maryland is so important."
NOFAS, a nonprofit organization founded in 1990, is dedicated to eliminating birth defects caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy and improving the quality of life for those individuals affected. NOFAS is committed to raising public awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders—the leading cause of mental retardation and birth defects—through education, intervention, and advocacy.
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