Alcohol-related problems cost American society nearly $200 billion per year and cause as many as 100,000 deaths annually. The alcoholic-beverage industry’s relentless marketing and powerful political influence, coupled with ineffective government alcohol policies, contribute to this ongoing public health and safety epidemic.
The consumption of alcohol during pregnancy is one of the leading preventable causes of birth defects and childhood disabilities in the United States. The adverse effects associated with fetal alcohol syndrome (FASD) range from growth deficiency, brain structure and function anomalies, and abnormalities of the head and face. The lifetime cost per child affected with FASD is estimated to be $1.4 million. Current Statistics show that 1 in 100 births are with FASD.
September 9 is International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day. Public awareness of FAS is an important factor in its prevention because FASD is 100 percent preventable. FAS is the damage caused to an unborn child due to a mother’s drinking during pregnancy.
With this in mind, the Stone County Drug Abuse Prevention Committee will sponsor a bell ringing ceremony. This ceremony is going to be observed throughout the county by a unified bell ringing on 09-09-09, at 9:09 AM, you might notice these bells on this date at schools, churches, or community buildings. In conjunction with this, the Stone County Drug Abuse Prevention Committee will be providing educational materials through the local health unit, DHS, physician’s offices and day care providers. In addition, the mayor and county Judge has by proclamation declared May 9, 2009 Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day.
The event is paid for in part by a grant from Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Behavioral Health Services,, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and the Regional Prevention Resource Center.
