Sept. 9 was Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Day in Saskatchewan, and organizations in the province raised awareness to try to dispel some myths about the disorder.
FASD refers to a spectrum of effects on a fetus when a mother drinks during her pregnancy. These effects can impair cognitive, sensory, and behavioural functioning.
There’s a stigma about mothers with children who have FASD since the disorder is viewed as preventable, but part of what Leslie Allen with the FASD Network wants to do is dispel this notion – effects of alcohol in children have been documented as little as two weeks after conception, when a woman may not know she’s pregnant.
“It can happen to basically anyone. There’s a lot of misconception out there that it’s a certain population or class of people that FASD is more prevalent in and it can strike anywhere,” she said. “Unless we can have a culture where women between the ages of 13 and 50 don’t take a drink, we’re not going to say it’s 100 per cent preventable.”
In addition, the FASD Network deals with addiction issues, since alcoholism is related to FASD.
“Until we can solve addiction problems, we’re still going to have children born with FASD,” she said.
The purpose of having the awareness day is twofold: to educate the public on the effects of drinking while pregnant and to educate women on not drinking even if they’re thinking about becoming pregnant or actively trying to become pregnant – and of course, don’t drink alcohol when you know you’re pregnant.
The awareness day has been in existence for over 20 years. the FASD Network does an annual walk, and activities across the province included barbecues, serving mocktails, walkathons, presentations, and poster contests.
