Prevention is Best for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

WE CAN WORRY justifiably when we see women of reproductive age drink alcohol because even a small amount taken at any time during pregnancy can lead to irreversible damage in the developing baby.We hope that every pregnancy can be wanted and planned for, but that is not a realistic goal for many young people in our communities today. Some of the most troubling situations surround so-called party schools where young people in colleges and universities engage in binge drinking, at times consuming significant amounts of alcohol on weekends or on vacation breaks away from classes. Many young men and women drink and experiment with unprotected sex and risk pregnancy as well as exposure to sexually transmitted diseases. [Copyright Elsevier B.V.]