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U.S. Lawmakers Create Congressional Caucus on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
(Kaisernetwork) Reps. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.) and Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) on Wednesday during a news conference in Washington, D.C., announced the creation of a new congressional caucus to address fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. Approximately 40,000 infants each year are born with defects due to exposure to alcohol while in utero. FASD are the "number one cause" of mental retardation, Ramstad said, adding, "The cost for one person with FASD is $1.4 million" (Markway, St. Paul Pioneer Press, 6/24).
The National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome on Wednesday at the news conference released a report, titled "Alcohol and Pregnancy Don't Mix: Binge Drinking Among Women 18-44 on the Rise," according to a NOFAS release. The report, based on new CDC data, lists states with the largest increases and decreases in binge drinking among women ages 18 to 44 (NOFAS release, 6/23).
According to the data, the percentage of U.S. women who reported frequent drinking during pregnancy doubled between 1991 and 2001, from 0.8 % to 1.6%. In 2001, 12.5% of U.S. women reported drinking some alcohol during pregnancy, compared with 12.4% in 1991. Arizona, Illinois, the District of Columbia, Connecticut and Maine experienced the largest increases in reports of binge drinking among women of childbearing age between 1999 and 2002, while Kentucky, Hawaii, Alabama, Indiana and New Hampshire experienced the largest decreases (HealthDayNews/HealthCentral.com, 6/23).
NOFAS President Tom Donaldson said, "As this new report by NOFAS shows, binge drinking continues to be a problem for women of childbearing age," adding, "Given that a single binge drinking episode has been liked to developmental delays, this should be a wake-up call for renewing our prevention efforts and dedicating the resources necessary to conduct comprehensive research into the factors that contribute to alcohol consumption among women, particularly those who are pregnant" (NOFAS release, 6/23).
Source: Kaisernetwork
Publish Date: June 25, 2004
Online at: http://ifrl.org/IFRLDailyNews/040625/5
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