[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 70 (Tuesday, May 11, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3533-S3534]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      NATIONAL ALCOHOL- AND OTHER DRUG-RELATED BIRTH DEFECTS WEEK

  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of National 
Alcohol and Other Drug-Related Birth Defects Week. Substance abuse 
during pregnancy is the leading known cause of birth defects and mental 
retardation in the United States. Each year thousands of babies are 
born with the physical signs and intellectual disabilities related to 
prenatal substance abuse.
  Of all the substances of abuse--including heroin, cocaine, and 
marijuana--alcohol produces the most serious physical and mental 
effects in the fetus, according to the Institute of Medicine. Referred 
to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, or FASD, the potential outcomes 
of alcohol abuse during pregnancy include mental retardation, growth 
deficits, altered facial characteristics, organ defects, behavioral 
problems, delayed motor skills, and various learning disabilities.
  Researchers estimate that more than 3 million Americans live with an 
FASD and as many as 40,000 infants are annually born with an FASD. The 
tragedy of alcohol- and other drug-related birth defects is entirely 
preventable and must be addressed. We must increase efforts to reach 
out to all women of childbearing age and connect those most at risk to 
treatment and counseling services. Increased awareness and education 
about the effects of substance abuse during pregnancy is the best way 
to reduce the prevalence of devastating birth defects.
  I recently joined Senators Murkowski, Inouye, and Landrieu in 
introducing the Advancing FASD Research, Prevention, and Services Act, 
in an effort to improve the surveillance, identification, and 
prevention of FASD. This legislation will make grants available to 
federally qualified health centers to provide training to health care 
providers on identifying and educating women who are at risk for 
alcohol consumption during pregnancy and on screening children for 
FASD. Through national public and education campaigns, this bill will 
reach millions and raise awareness of the risks associated with alcohol 
consumption during pregnancy.
  There is no cure for FASD and other drug-related birth defects. Yet 
the devastating effects are entirely preventable when pregnant women 
abstain from substance use. It is therefore imperative to reach at-risk 
women and ensure they have knowledge of the dangers of substance abuse, 
as well as access to quality reproductive and prenatal care. When we 
move past the stigma associated with this disease, we can truly help 
those and their families who are affected get the health, education, 
counseling, and support services they need and deserve.
  I have long supported efforts to put an end to this entirely 
preventable and destructive disease. In my home State of South Dakota, 
over 7,800 individuals are suspected of living with an FASD.

[[Page S3534]]

     With the leadership of the health professionals at our 
     esteemed universities, parents, and teachers, among countless 
     others, we have made some important progress in addressing 
     this issue. However, there is more work to be done to prevent 
     alcohol- and other drug-related birth defects in South Dakota 
     and at the national level. The goal is to one day entirely 
     eliminate the heartbreaking, lifelong effects of fetal 
     alcohol and drug exposure.

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