Course Project -- Prenatal Risk Factors (Alcoholism and Substance Abuse)

As a science teacher, I have a great interest in the human body.  I am fascinated about how it works and the issues that can cause it not to function properly.  When I first looked at the list of challenges, I found all of them interesting.  There was one that particularly piqued my interest.   It was not difficult to choose the area of prenatal risk factors.  There are many factors that can affect a developing child.  The topic surrounding prenatal risks that I have chosen to explore is prenatal alcohol and substance abuse.  Alcoholism and substance abuse can affect the mother, the delivery process, the unborn fetus and the developing child.

According to Ware et al. (2015) fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a terminology used to describe a host of conditions such as mental, behavioral, physical, or learning problems.  Alcoholism and substance abuse can cause stillborns, low birth rates, or premature births.  There are other complications that may develop.  Fetal alcohol syndrome is the most severe form of  FASD.  This can result if a woman drinks seven or more drinks per week.  Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS is typified by differing levels of craniofacial deformities, impaired pre and postnatal grown,  central nervous systems malformation, and heart defects.  Alcoholism and substance abuse often results in children suffering from many types of learning disabilities. 

There is no safe amount of alcohol or drugs that are appropriate for the unborn child. Prenatal exposure to drugs or alcohol is the most preventable cause of birth defects in newborns. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that 10 out of every 100 pregnant women drink and two out of every 100 binge drink. These numbers startled me. Women who binge drink while pregnant risk lifelong disorders in their child (CDC, 2015). Treatment for alcoholism during this time is warranted.


I believe that working with children who are affected with FASD would prove quite challenging. Meeting the needs of these children takes the work of special education teachers, parent, medical personnel, and the schools.  These individuals must be diligent in their approach to the education and treatments of their specific disorders.  In the past, I have taught many children who have been diagnosed with FASD.  These children require special care so that they can acquire the highest possible quality of life.  There are many problems that the affected child will develop which causes many lifelong developmental and psychological problems.  These problems may consist of neurological and physical issues.

These are some questions that I have concerning FASD and substance abuse.

1. When are how is FASD diagnosed?

2. What substance abuse treatments are best for pregnant women?

3.  What developmental services are best in alcohol and substance abuse treatment?

References

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015). Data and statistics for FASD. Retrieved from
 
          http://www.ede.gov/ncbddd/faasd/data.html

Ware, A. L., O'Brien, J. W., Crocker, N., Deweese, B. N., Roesch, S. C., Coles, C. D., ... & Jones,

          K. L. (2013). The Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Attention‐Deficit/Hyperactivity

          Disorder on Psychopathology and Behavior. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental

          Research, 37(3), 507-516.