Tool Kit Aims to Prevent Birth Defects

A new resource kit is designed to help pregnant Native American women avoid the harm of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. The The American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Resource Kit is aimed at mothers-to-be, their friends, relatives, health professionals and community leaders.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders include physical, mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications that can occur when mothers drink too much during pregnancy.

An estimated 40,000 babies are born each year with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and native communities have some of the highest rates of the alcohol-related birth defects.

Contents of FASD Kit

The kit, distributed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, includes the following:

• Current data and statistics on FASD.

• Fact sheets and brochures for women, men, youth and communities on how to prevent FASD and how to find help.

• Strategies for FASD education and prevention.

• Posters that can be copied and shared.

• FASD -- The Basics, a slide presentation for people with no prior knowledge of or experience with FASD.

• A CD with an electronic version of the entire resource kit.

The American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Resource Kit is available online. Copies may be obtained free of charge by calling SAMHSA's Health Information Network at 1-877-726-4727. Request inventory number SMA07-4264.

More Information:

• Mothers' Drinking Shrinks Fetal Brain
  
• Pregnancy and Drinking
  
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

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