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Preventing Alcohol-Exposed Pregnancies

FAS Is a Public Health Concern

FAS is an permanent, lifelong condition that affects every aspect of a child’s life and the lives of the child’s family.  However, FAS is completely preventable – if a woman does not drink alcohol while she is pregnant.  Also, if a woman is planning a pregnancy or is sexually active and not using effective birth control, she should avoid alcohol consumption because she may be pregnant and not know for several weeks or more.

Public health concern over drinking during pregnancy was first signaled in 1981 by the release of a public health advisory from the Office of the Surgeon General. This advisory warned women who were pregnant or planning a pregnancy to abstain from alcohol use because of the potential risks to the fetus. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued additional advisories in 1990, 1995, and 2000.

Did you know?

·         While the overall rate of any alcohol use (at least one drink) among pregnant women has declined since 1995; frequent (7 or more drinks per week) and binge (5 or more drinks on any one occasion) drinking continues to occur.

·         One in 30 women who know they are pregnant reports “risk drinking” (7 or more drinks per week or 5 or more drinks on any one occasion).  Drinking alcohol at these levels can pose a serious health threat to the unborn fetus.

·         One in seven women of childbearing age (18 to 44 years of age) who report not being pregnant engages in "risk drinking.”  This is a concern because a woman may be pregnant and not know it, while continuing to drink at risk levels. 

·         An estimated 130,000 pregnant women per year in the United States consume alcohol at levels shown to increase the risk of having a baby with FAS or other prenatal alcohol-related condition.

CDC supports the following prevention activities:

• Project CHOICES (Changing High-Risk AlcOhol use and Increasing Contraception Effectiveness Study)

• Project BALANCE (Birth Control and ALcohol Awareness: Negotiating Choices Effectively)

• Preventing Alcohol-Exposed Pregnancies in Diverse Populations

• Increasing Public Awareness of the Risks of Alcohol Use During Pregnancy through Targeted Media Campaigns

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This page was last updated Thursday, August 05, 2004

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National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities

The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) promotes the health of babies, children, and adults, and enhances the potential for full, productive living.  Our work includes identifying the causes of birth defects and developmental disabilities, helping children to develop and reach their full potential, and promoting health and well-being among people of all ages with disabilities.