It also shows the harmful results of only one episode of intoxication during this period, whereas past studies often focused on long-term alcohol exposure. According to Larry Camp, Executive Director of the Texas Office for Prevention of Developmental Disabilities, this recent research is significant for Texas. The current number of persons with alcohol-affected births in Texas may be as high as 196,497. The broad category of such disorders is sometimes referred to as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders . Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause significant impairment in learning, attention, sensory experiences, social relations, mental and physical health, and other aspects of personal development.
Mental illness is the largest co-occurring disorder in persons with known prenatal alcohol exposure.
These effects are permanent, and result in significant social and financial costs that are borne by everyone. While the incidence of FAS is estimated to be one per 1,000 births, this statistic refers only to those children born with the facial and other physical abnormalities required for such a diagnosis. Estimates of the number of children born with any Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder range from one per 500 to one per 100. This is larger than the estimated incidence of Down syndrome and many other more well known developmental disabilities. The period in which infants are susceptible to toxic effects of alcohol extends beyond birth, Camp noted.