On the 9th September, to symbolise the nine months of pregnancy
communities around the world hold events to raise the awareness of
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders which are estimated to affect at least
one percent of our population can be caused if a woman drinks alcohol
during pregnancy. FASD is an umbrella term that covers foetal alcohol
syndrome (FAS), alcohol-related neurodevelopment disorders (ARND),
alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD), foetal alcohol effects (FAE) and
partial foetal alcohol syndrome (pFAS). The exact prevalence of FASD in
the UK is not known. International prevalence studies in countries such
as the United States, Canada, Australia, Finland, Japan and Italy state
that at least 1 in 100 children are affected. This would equate to at
least 6,000–7,000 babies born with FASD each year in the UK.
When a pregnant woman drinks, the alcohol in her blood passes freely
through the placenta into the developing baby’s blood. Because the
foetus does not have a fully developed liver, it cannot filter out the
toxins from the alcohol as an adult can. Instead, the alcohol circulates
in the baby’s blood system and can destroy brain cells and damage the
nervous system.
Effects can be mild or severe, ranging from reduced intellectual ability
and attention deficit disorder to heart problems and even death. Many
children experience serious behavioural and social difficulties that
last a life time.
Many children born with FASD are not diagnosed, or do not receive a
correct diagnosis, which makes calculating the prevalence of the
condition extremely difficult. NOFAS-UK is a charity dedicated to
supporting people affected by foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD),
and their families and communities. It promotes education for
professionals and public awareness about the risks of alcohol
consumption during pregnancy. There is no consistent clear message on
safe levels of alcohol during pregnancy; therefore they promote ‘no
alcohol means no risk of FASD’.
Addiction Helper, an independent service based in the UK for people with
addictions take around 3000 calls per month on their help line, mainly
from the loved ones of addicts looking for advice on treatment
programmes. Daniel Gerrard the Founder of Addiction Helper is concerned
about the number of women struggling with alcohol intake prior to
conception and during pregnancy, he says, ‘Because there is no proven
safe level for alcohol consumption during pregnancy, the only risk-free
approach is to avoid alcohol completely – during pregnancy, when trying
to conceive and when breastfeeding.’
FACTFILE:
• Daniel Gerrard has a certificate in counselling and pyschotherapy from
Regents College and has also spent time as a volunteer in various rehab
centres around the UK and at Drugsline.
• Addiction Helper helps over fifty addicts a month into bespoke treatment programmes.
• A team of trained addiction counsellors handle caller and email
enquiries 24/7 offering confidential free advice to anyone affected by
addiction including family members, loved ones, friends and colleagues.
• Addiction Helper is a division of The Recovery Healthcare Group
• Calls to Addiction Helper are free 0800 140 4823
• www.addictionhelper.com
• For more information on foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) please visit www.nofas-uk.org.
• Call the NOFAS-UK helpline on 020 8458 5951
No comments:
Post a Comment