Culture,
Alcohol Use
and
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
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First
Question…….
What is Culture?
2
Second
Question…………
How does alcohol use
vary in different
cultures?
3
Third
Question…..
What is Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome?
4
These
are the
questions we
will be covering
today
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Culture is……………
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 The
concepts, habits,
skills, art, instruments,
institutions, etc. of a given
people in a given period;
civilization
Webster’s Dictionary
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



The
The
The
The
The
The
The
The
culture of a family
culture of a town
culture of a state
culture of a region
culture of country
blending of cultures
culture of our current time
culture of our current age
Culture can be…….
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
Drinking Alcohol is common around the
world. Except where prohibited by
religion, is the norm rather than the
exception. In the US about 2/3 of adult
population drink alcohol to some extent
according to the US Department of Health
and Human Services.
Alcohol Use
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
For the overwhelming majority of those
who drink alcoholic beverages, this
behavior has no health, personal or social
consequences.
Alcohol Use
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Until an individual drives drunk
 Drinking becomes excessive
 Drinking becomes uncontrollable
 A woman drinks when pregnant

Alcohol Use
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
Countries that have the highest rates of
per capita alcohol consumption also have
the high rates of alcohol-related problems
including FASD
Alcohol Use
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What
Country has
the highest rate of
drinking Alcohol
per capita?
Alcohol Use
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United
States
Alcohol Use
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What
state has the
highest number of
people with FAS?
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◦ALASKA
FAS
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
FAS is characterized by brain damage,
facial deformities, and growth deficits.
Heart, liver, and kidney defects also are
common, as well as vision and hearing
problems. Individuals with FAS have
difficulties with learning, attention,
memory, and problem solving.
FAS
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
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a set of
physical and mental birth defects that can
result when a woman drinks alcohol
during her pregnancy. When a pregnant
woman drinks alcohol, such as beer, wine,
or mixed drinks, so does her baby. Alcohol
passes through the placenta right into the
developing baby. The baby may suffer
lifelong damage as a result.
FAS
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
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
is an umbrella term describing the range
of effects that can occur in an individual
whose mother drank alcohol during
pregnancy. These effects may include
physical, mental, behavioral, and/or
learning disabilities with possible lifelong
implications. The term FASD is not
intended for use as a clinical diagnosis.
FASD
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FASD covers other terms such as:
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) - the only diagnosis given by
doctors.
 Alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND) - reserved
for individuals with functional or cognitive impairments linked to
prenatal alcohol exposure, including decreased head size at birth,
structural brain abnormalities, and a pattern of behavioral and
mental abnormalities
 Alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD) - describes the physical
defects linked to prenatal alcohol exposure, including heart,
skeletal, kidney, ear, and eye malformations
 Fetal alcohol effects (FAE) - a term that has been popularly used
to describe alcohol-exposed individuals whose condition does not
meet the full criteria for an FAS diagnosis
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FASD
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Whitecrow Village FASD Society
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Understanding & Prevention
WHITECROW VILLAGE FASD SOCIETY is a non-profit, charitable organization
committed to educating communities and professionals about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorder (FASD) and to improving the lives of those who are affected by this prominent
neurodevelopmental disability.
FASD affects all facets of society and reaches across all social and professional domains. It
transcends cultural and economic diversities, and is reported to be the highest occurring
birth defect in North America (topping Muscular Dystrophy, HIV Infection, Spina Bifida, and
Down Syndrome). Health Canada estimates that 9 out of every 1000 babies born have
FASD, and that one child with FAS is born every day in Canada. Without proper support
and understanding, persons with FASD are at risk for many secondary disabilities including
drug and alcohol addictions, trouble with the law, unemployment, poverty, homelessness,
depression, and suicide.
Whitecrow Village is for and about community. Our programs offer a model for a way of
life and a way of being with one another. Wherever and whenever we come together, we
create a place where regardless of age, color, gender, social class, disability or ability,
sexual preference, religious persuasion, and all other things that have been used to divide
and create disharmony among peoples throughout history each person has equal value and
belonging. Each voice is heard; as each completes our circle.
Canadian Program
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FASD Impacts Us All.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is caused when a
woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy. FASD
is common. It is costly. And it is 100% preventable.
 Since 1998, the Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome (MOFAS) has been the hub of hope for individuals and
families affected by FASD. MOFAS is the statewide organization
serving as the leading voice and resource on FASD in Minnesota standing up for the rights of the FASD community, providing
education and training so FASD is better understood
and working to ensure that all women know that there is no safe
level of alcohol use during pregnancy.
 We invite you to browse our site to learn about the Minnesota
Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (MOFAS). Share in our
vision of celebrating alcohol-free pregnancies. And help us
prevent FASD.


Minnesota Program
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Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) – Statistics in South Africa:
According to scientific studies, South Africa has the highest
reported incidence of FAS in the world.
 In some areas up to 12.2% (122 babies in 1000) of babies are
born with FAS – a problem of national proportions if compared to
the statistic of 12% of adults with HIV/AIDS in South Africa.
 The prevalence of FAS in countries such as America varies from
0.1 to 0.8%, whereas in South Africa FAS is as high as 12.2% in
high risk areas.
 The prevalence rate of Fetal Alcohol Exposure is far higher than
the recorded FAS rate (between three to five times higher.) Thus
50 – 70% individuals were prenatally damaged with tragic and
dire consequences for all communities in South Africa.

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
www.fasfacts.org.za then go to You Tube…..a must see!
It Takes a Village
South Africa
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Why
does The Arc of
Rowan care about
FAS and FASD?
The Arc of Rowan
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FASD
is a 100%
preventable cause of
Intellectual and
Development Disabilities
The Arc of Rowan
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Links
for FASD
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 About
 List
The Arc of Rowan…….
of our current programs
The Arc of Rowan
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◦Contact Information

www.thearcofrowan.org

704-637-1521
The Arc of Rowan
 1918 W. Innes Street
 Salisbury, NC 28144

The Arc of Rowan
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