September 8, 2010

Contact:   Jolene Gurtis   

(850) 386-9100 or jgurtis@rboa.com                                                    

TALLAHASSEE – The spotlight will be on a significant public-health issue Thursday, thanks to Gov. Charlie Crist proclaiming Sept. 9, 2010, as “Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Awareness Day.” The commemoration is part of an effort to raise awareness and reduce the prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) in Florida. , Fla.

FASD is an umbrella term describing the possible effects that may occur in an individual whose mother drank during pregnancy. A recent study shows that one in 100 newborns suffer from effects due to prenatal alcohol use each year. The range of effects includes physical, mental, behavioral and learning disabilities. It is estimated that FAS alone costs American taxpayers $5.4 billion annually.

As stated in Gov. Crist’s proclamation, “FASD is the cause of many social disorders including learning disabilities, juvenile delinquency, homelessness, unemployment and mental illness.”

This year marks the 12^th annual FAS Awareness Day. The commemoration was first recognized on Sept. 9, 1999, by a group of parents working to support women with substance abuse problems. To symbolize the nine months that a woman should abstain from alcohol during pregnancy, they chose the 9^th day of the 9^th month of the year as International FAS Awareness Day, when people around the world could gather for events to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking while pregnant and recognize the plight of individuals and families who struggle with FASD.

To further support this cause, the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC) has launched a statewide public awareness campaign, titled “Florida Fights FASD,” to engage and educate Floridians about the dangers of alcohol consumption during pregnancy and reduce the number of children born with FASD in Florida.

“The effects of FASD are devastating and lifelong, yet 100 percent preventable,” said Debra Dowds, FDDC executive director. “This is why it is so important to raise awareness and inform Floridians that no amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy.”

An important component of the Florida Fights FASD campaign is a community-action summit that will be held Oct. 20-21 in Tallahassee. This summit will bring together association executives, state agency representatives and community leaders to participate in an educational forum where expert speakers will lead discussions about the prevalence of FASD and what can be done to combat it. The goal of the summit is to ignite “torchbearers” for the cause to serve as community advocates and take FASD prevention activities back to their local communities.

FDDC seeks to promote meaningful participation in all aspects of life for Floridians with developmental disabilities. To learn more about FDDC, visit www.fddc.org or call toll-free 1-888-580-7801 or TDD 1-888-488-8633. To find out more information about FAS Awareness Day and the FASD Summit, visit www.FASD-FL.org.

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