Anchorage Daily News

Doctors tell you, "Don't drink when you're pregnant." 

What they don't tell you is why. 

Here's why: the stories of four families.

Disruption of Neural Network

A recent study at the University of California, Riverside, shows that prenatal exposure to alcohol can significantly alter the expression of genes and the development of neurons in the brain. Science Daily

"I was surprised that the result of alcohol exposure was quite dramatic," said the lead researcher.

Behavioral abnormalities in mice are similar to those seen in prenatal alcohol-exposed children.

But one comment on their statement that FASD without the facial abnormalities is a milder form of the syndrome:

In reality, the presence of visible physical abnormalities is likely to result in early intervention and services, leading to a better outcome. Those without clear visible signs are often misdiagnosed, and the root of their difficulties may never be discovered. FASD without the facial abnormalities is actually a far more insidious form of the syndrome.

On Changing Zero-Tolerance Policies in Schools

  

           Letters to the New York Times: changing zero-tolerance policies in schools.

Education

Educating students with FASD is one of our most important societal responsibilities.

Problem: Diagnosis is difficult and requires persistent effort. Only a very small percentage of affected children are ever diagnosed.

Problem: Many of the undiagnosed drop out of school.

Problem: School failure results in additional costs to society.

Solution: We could improve chances of success for the FASD-affected by providing an open door to alternative and vocational education for any student exhibiting behaviors typical of FASD exposure. 

Benefits for all: Giving FASD-affected children appropriate education increases their chances of living productive, fulfilling lives as contributors to society.

More Thoughts on Prison Reform

A recent New York Times editorial cites the European approach to corrections, which emphasizes rehabilitation as a model  that could prove useful in overhauling the disastrous U. S. prison system.

The comparison suggests that we should keep non-violent offenders out of jail by reforming rigid sentencing, zero tolerance, and three strike policies.

One of the many benefits would be to keep minor offenders from the influence of more experienced inmates. Sandy, for example, received quite a thorough criminal education during her many incarcerations.

Another troubling aspect of the U. S. prison system is its high percentage of mentally ill inmates. When state mental hospitals closed, there were no alternatives for the severely mentally ill. Without a support system, most ended up on the street, enduring psychiatric episodes, self-medicating with alcohol and drugs, and committing petty crimes.

Jails then became de facto crisis intervention centers. This Wall Street Journal article details the dismantling of our mental health hospitals and effects upon correctional institutions. Mentally ill prisoners currently cost this country $9 billion every year. Since 94% of FASD-affected people become mentally ill, they are certainly part of this problem.

We can improve mental health services within the prison system. As head of psychiatry for Washington prisons said of the increasing number of severe situations, "Prisons can't say no to the mentally ill. They have to solve the problem."

We can also make a sizable dent in our inmate population and numbers of the mentally ill, by aggressively publicizing that fact that drinking during pregnancy can cause life-shattering, irreparable brain damage to the child and bring high costs to society.

FASD and the School to Prison Pipeline

Photo Credit: http://www.hpjc.org/pipeline

Kudos to Broward County, Florida for making serious changes in school zero-tolerance policies that have been sending disproportionate numbers of racial minorities and special education students into the criminal justice system for non-violent misdemeanors.

FASD-affected students, with their lack of impulse control and judgement, are highly likely to make mistakes that make them candidates for needless incarceration.

The chart below illustrates the cost of criminalizing behavior that in the past would have been handled by the school:

Photo credit: http://ivn.us/2012/12/15/senate-committee-holds-hearing-on-school-to-prison-pipeline/

While the cost of incarceration to society is staggering, the cost to individuals can be devastating.

We must look instead at positive alternatives: generous funding of public education and after-school programs, restorative justice, and dismantling the school to prison pipeline across the nation.

Photo credit http://www.suspensionstories.com/school-to-prison-pipeline/

Newspaper Ad

Today's Daily Camera, my local newspaper, included this revolutionary ad.

Here in Boulder County more than 15% of permanent residents and 45% of college students regularly exceed these recommended alcohol limits.

The ad's linked website describes the health risks of excessive alcohol consumption, and includes a quiz on personal drinking habits and information on obtaining treatment. Not once but twice, it states that women who are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breastfeeding should not use alcohol and specifically lists brain damage as a health risk to the developing fetus.

Way to go, Boulder County!

A recent New York Times editorial, states that one in six Americans and over one in four young adults regularly binge drinks. In addition to the danger of accidents, alcohol poisoning, and liver and brain damage, young women are particularly vulnerable to resulting date rape, unplanned pregnancy, and giving birth to fetal alcohol-exposed babies (FASD).

Help spread the word about safe drinking.