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Think it might be FASD?

Drinking during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).

FASD is a range of disabilities caused when a fetus is exposed to alcohol. FASD can include physical, mental, behavioral and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications.

FASD is common. FASD is costly. FASD is 100% preventable.

Drinking during pregnancy can cause FASD.

Drinking during pregnancy can impact fetal development and cause irreversible birth defects and brain injury.1

FASD is not a diagnosis but rather an umbrella term describing the range of birth defects caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. These effects may include physical, mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications.2 There are many terms under the FASD umbrella, including these medical diagnoses:3

  • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
  • Alcohol Related Neuro-developmental Disorders (ARND)
  • Alcohol Related Birth Defects (ARBD)
  • Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS)

FASD is 100% preventable.

The only known cause of FASD is prenatal alcohol exposure.15 FASD cannot be “passed down” from a parent with an FASD, and it cannot be caused by a partner’s drinking. FASD can be prevented by not drinking any alcohol throughout pregnancy, from conception to birth.16-20

Want to know more?  Click here for frequently asked questions about FASD or click here to access free, printable PDF fact sheets and strategy guides.

Embryos must not drink alcohol.

Because no amount of alcohol can be considered safe during pregnancy, all major medical associations — including the Centers for Disease Control, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the U.S. Surgeon General — say that if a person is pregnant, or could become pregnant, they should abstain from drinking alcohol—all alcohol.

The effects of prenatal alcohol exposure impact each person differently. An FASD assessment may be needed if you see signs like:

  • Hearing or vision problems4, 5
  • Difficulty in school6
  • Poor coordination7
  • Sensitivity to light, touch, or sound8
  • Hyperactive behavior9
  • Difficulty paying attention10
  • Memory issues11
  • Poor social skills12
  • Impulsivity13
  • Poor reasoning and judgment skills14

Unfortunately, there is not a simple medical test (such as a blood test) that can be used to confirm a diagnosis. Instead, FASD is diagnosed by a team of trained professionals. Click here to learn more about the diagnostic process.

Mollie O'Brien, Executive Director, Proof Alliance

“We all want babies to be born healthy and have the best start possible. Avoiding alcohol while pregnant or trying to become pregnant is the first and most important step in achieving that.”

View sources

1 Burd L, Blair J, Dropps K. Prenatal alcohol exposure, blood alcohol concentrations and alcohol elimination rates for the mother, fetus and newborn. Journal of Perinatology. 2012;32(9):652-659.

2 Noor S, Milligan ED. Lifelong Impacts of Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Neuroimmune Function. Frontiers in Immunology. 2018.

3 Gross AC, Deling LA, Wozniak JR, Boys CJ. Objective measures of executive functioning are highly discrepant with parent-report in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Child Neuropsychology. 2015;2(4):531-538.

4 Stephen JM, Kodituwakku PW, Kodituwakku EL, Romero L, Peters AM, Sharadamma NM, Caprihan A, Coffman BA. Delays in auditory processing identified in preschool children with FASD. Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research. 2012;36(10):1720-1727.

5 Vernescu RM, Adams RJ, Courage ML. Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder show an amblyopia-like pattern of vision deficit. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. 2012;54(6):557-562.

6 Glass L, Moore EM, Akshoomoff N, Jones KL, Riley EP, Mattson SN. Academic difficulties in children with prenatal alcohol exposure: Presence, profile, and neural correlates. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 2017;41(5):1024-1034.

7 Taggart TC, Simmons RW, Thomas JD, Riley EP. Children with Heavy Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Exhibit Atypical Gait Characteristics. Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. 2017;41(9):1648-1655.

8 Masotti P, Longstaffe S, Gammon H, Isbister J, Maxwell B, Hanlon-Dearman A. Integrating care for individuals with FASD: results from a multi-stakeholder symposium. BMC Health Services Research. 2015;15(1):1-12.

9 Young S, Absoud M, Blackburn C, Branney P, Colley B, Farrag E, & … Mukherjee R. Guidelines for identification and treatment of individuals with attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder and associated fetal alcohol spectrum disorders based upon expert consensus. BMC Psychiatry. 2016; 16(1):324.

10 Flak AL, Su S, Bertrand J, Denny CH, Kesmodel US, Cogswell ME. The association of mild, moderate, and binge prenatal alcohol exposure and child neuropsychological outcomes: A Meta-analysis. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2014;38(1):214-26.

11 Terasaki LS, Schwarz JM. Impact of Prenatal and Subsequent Adult Alcohol Exposure on Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Expression in Brain Regions Necessary for Simple Recognition Memory. Brain Sciences (2076-3425). 2017;7(10):1-16.

12 Panczakiewicz AL, Glass L, Coles CD, et al. Neurobehavioral deficits consistent across age and sex in youth with prenatal alcohol exposure. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 2016;40(9):1971-1981.

13 Pei J, Leung WSW, Jampolsky F, Alsbury B. Experiences in the Canadian criminal justice system for individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Doublejeopardy?. Canadian Journal of Criminology & Criminal Justice. 2016;58(1):56-86.

14 Rangmar J, Dahlgren Sandberg A, Aronson M, Fahlke C. Cognitive and executive functions, social cognition and sense of coherence in adults with fetal alcohol syndrome. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. 2015;69:472-478.

15 Fitzpatrick JP, Pestell CF. Neuropsychological Aspects of Prevention and Intervention for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Australia. Journal of Pediatric Neuropsychology. 2017;3(1):38-52.

16 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs). https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/alcohol-use.html

17 American Academy of Pediatrics. AAP Says No Amount of Alcohol Should Be Considered Safe During Pregnancy. https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/AAP-Says-No-Amount-of-Alcohol-Should-be-Considered-Safe-During-Pregnancy.aspx

18 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Notice to Readers: Surgeon General’s Advisory on Alcohol Use in Pregnancy. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5409a6.htm

19 National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Fetal Alcohol Exposure. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/fetal-alcohol-exposure

20 World Health Organization. Counting the Costs of Drinking Alcohol During Pregnancy. https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/95/5/17-030517/en/