Department of Human Services

To the Editor:

Sunday, September 9^th is National Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness and Prevention Day. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is caused by women drinking alcohol while pregnant and is the most common preventable cause of mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.

This spring, the New Jersey Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Task Force, a committee of the Governor’s Council on the Prevention of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, completed a report on the state of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services in New Jersey. The availability of a Diagnosis and Treatment Center for children affected by Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and their families was identified as one of the greatest needs.

Acting Governor Donald T. DiFrancesco acted quickly to rectify this lack by providing $450,000 to support the establishment of a Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Diagnostic and Treatment Center. This center will provide the treatment and case management services that are so needed by families. In addition, the center will be responsible for working with New Jersey's Schools of Medicine and Nursing to insure that these health professionals are educated about the detrimental affects of alcohol upon fetal development.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is entirely preventable. Unfortunately, too often fetuses are injured by exposure to alcohol during the early months of pregnancy, before the woman even knows she is pregnant. As such, we encourage all women and their partners who are considering having a child to stop drinking any alcohol before pregnancy. There is no known safe limit to drinking during pregnancy. As the saying goes, "You can't drink to your baby's health."

James Smith
Acting Commissioner
Department of Human Services

Fred Patterson
Chair
Governor’s Council on the Prevention of Mental Retardation
and Developmental Disabilities