Research Paper on:
Prevention and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
that is caused by the mothers indulgence of alcohol while she is pregnant ("fetal," 1996). It generally occurs when a mother drinks an amount of alcohol equivalent to 3 ounces  or more per day (1996). Children who are affected generally have defects involving their heads, faces, arms and legs, and hearts as well (1996). They usually are also afflicted with  delayed growth and sometimes mental retardation (1996). Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) individuals usually have a distinctive physical appearance with lower IQs, but they also generally tend to have lower  crime and addiction rates than FAE individuals for example, because they are diagnosed earlier ("Fetal," 2001). FAE stands for Fetal Alcohol Effects; individuals who are thought to have this condition  may lack the outward physical appearance that FAS children do, and have higher IQs, but the internal damage to the brain and other organs may be quite serious, as in  FAS. FAE individuals "look normal" (2001). Here, it is expressed that FAS does not necessarily have to manifest for the alcohol to have done some damage to an individual.  However, FAE is very vague, whereas FAS is a rather clear-cut, easily diagnosed condition. Fetal alcohol syndrome is characterized by central nervous system  impairment, growth deficiency, as well as the appearance of dysmorphic facial features (Egeland, Perham-Hester et al., 1998). It is also thought to be a preventable cause of mental retardation (1998).  Indeed, had a woman not been drinking, no damage would result, so it is preventable. Problems arise with alcoholics who become pregnant. They are often in denial, and will generally  hide their drinking anyway. Fetal alcohol syndrome is a lifelong disability that involves substantial costs to society as well as to the