Taking a stand against FAS
FROM SUBMITTED REPORTS January 1, 2011 6:32PM
Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM
NEW LENOX — Starting in 2011, all Illinois county clerk offices will provide an educational brochure describing the causes and effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome with each marriage license issued.
This initiative is part of an effort to prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, an umbrella term for a range of defects caused by fetal exposure to alcohol.
Legislators and advocates hope that the brochure will encourage prospective mothers to make an informed choice about drinking, given the grave risks alcohol poses to fetal development.
Available in both English and Spanish, the brochure also includes some frequently asked questions and provides a list of organizations that offer information and other services for those interested in more information.
Lawmakers also see the initiative as one way to decrease the cost of diagnosing and caring for those born with FAS. Since the disorders may include physical, mental, behavioral or learning difficulties with possible lifelong implications, some experts have estimated that the cost in Illinois could be more than $334 million annually.
To learn more about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, contact Illinois NOFAS at 815-462-4273 or visit the website www.nofasillinois.org.
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