Chicago, December 18, 2006 - The holiday season is upon us and with that, parties and celebrations abound. But Prevention First, a statewide nonprofit organization specializing in drug abuse issues, is cautioning pregnant women, even women trying to get pregnant, not to drink any type of alcoholic beverage during the holidays or at any time of year.

Although pregnant women are told by some doctors it’s okay to have a drink every once in a while, the Illinois Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Task Force, including Prevention First, reports that even one drink can harm their babies. According to the task force, roughly 40,000 children are born in the U.S. every year with some form of birth defect as a result of alcohol use during pregnancy – 9,000 of them in Illinois.

“There is no safe amount of alcohol while pregnant,” warned Dr. Ira Chasnoff, President of the Children’s Research Triangle, a leading authority on FASD. Prenatal alcohol exposure not only causes a child to have a small brain, but can also stunt the growth of individual parts of the brain.

Karel Ares, executive director of Prevention First, said what women should remember is, “If you are pregnant, don't drink. If you drink, don't get pregnant.”

Many women drink alcohol in the early stages of pregnancy before they know they are pregnant. After they learn that they are pregnant, they may continue to drink occasionally with the support of their doctors. In a survey, the task force found that only 20 percent of obstetricians and gynecologists identified abstinence as the safest way to avoid adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with alcohol use.

Children with a diagnosis of FASD face a lifetime of problems. They are at increased risk for suffering from mental illness, addictions, dropping out of school and incarceration. It is estimated that FASD can cost between $1 million and $5 million per child, not inclusive of societal costs associated with lost productivity, incarceration and quality of life for the child and family. Although many of these children will go on to lead productive lives, many more will suffer from a wide range of problems from learning disabilities, behavior difficulties and various physical problems.