137th APHA Annual Meeting (November 7-11, 2009): Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD): Prevalence and effects of alcohol exposure

Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Patricia Getty, PhD , Division of Systems Development, SAMHSA/CSAP, Rockville, MD
Handout (free access)

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is an umbrella term used to describe a range of conditions resulting from alcohol exposure during pregnancy. It affects thousands of individuals, their families and communities. In the United States, FASD occurs in about 10 per 1,000 live births.
Alcohol is a teratogen, a substance that can harm a fetus. Drinking alcohol while pregnant can result in cognitive, social, and/or motor deficiencies as well as other lifelong problems. These primary disabilities occur at birth but secondary disabilities result when primary disabilities are not effectively addressed. The consequences are serious and the damage is permanent. Yet, FASD is 100% preventable.

This session will address the foundations of understanding FASD and its impact by: 1) reviewing prevalence and the limitations in identifying the extent of the problem, 2) describing the effects of alcohol exposure on the developing fetus, 3) presenting the neurological, behavioral, physical and cognitive effects that are possible, and 4) exploring the secondary disabilities associated with FASD.

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify the prevalence of alcohol use and the quantity consumed during pregnancy 2. Identify the incidence rate of FAS and FASD 3. Identify safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy 4. List the range of effects resulting from alcohol exposure

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Dr. Patricia B. Getty, is the Acting Director in the Division of Systems Development, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA). She is responsible for oversight for the materials development, data analysis, technical assistance and training for the Center. She serves as the Contract Project Officer for the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Center for Excellence and the Communities That Care Implementation project. Her dissertation for her PhD was, “An Analysis of the Perceptions and Attitudes of Fetal Alcohol-Drug Affected Children and their Custodial Parents Relating to Factors of Stress.” She has served as Branch Chief for the Division of State and Community Systems Development at CSAP, providing oversight to the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant and the Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grants. She directed the efforts to develop a set of prevention performance measures which eventually led to the National Outcome Measures. She served as the CSAP Coordinator for the International Visitors Program and as the Government Contract Officer for the development of a web-based curriculum associated with the core competencies for the Prevention Professional Certification. Dr. Getty was the Idaho State Director for Substance Abuse for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and as the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Coordinator for the Department of Education in Idaho. She served as the Chairman for the National Steering Committee for the U.S. Department of Education’s Drug-Free Schools and Communities Program. Dr. Getty is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Certified Prevention Professional and an Internationally Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor. In addition to many years in the prevention field, she spent 17 years as a substance abuse counselor, working in various civilian and military facilities including the U.S. Military Hospital in Nuremburg, West Germany. She directed several treatment facilities in Idaho. While in private practice, she contracted with the Veterans Administration to provide counseling to veterans returning from Vietnam and their families, focusing on PTSD, substance abuse, co-occurring disorders and suicide prevention.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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137th APHA Annual Meeting (November 7-11, 2009): Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD): Prevalence and effects of alcohol exposure