Chicago, September 6, 2006 - While pregnant women are told by some doctors it's okay to have a drink every once in a while, an Illinois task force is warning them that even one drink can harm their babies.

"Alcohol use in pregnancy is the most common cause of diagnosable mental retardation and behavioral problems in the United States. These problems are 100 percent preventable if we can help the public understand that there is no safe amount of alcohol use in pregnancy," says Ira J. Chasnoff, M.D., co-chair of the Illinois Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Task Force.

During a press conference held today, the Illinois FASD Task Force released its long-anticipated final report, "Breaking the Cycle: Meeting the Needs of Children and Families Impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders."

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.

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 in 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that only 20 percent of obstetricians and gynecologists identified abstinence as the safest way to avoid adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with alcohol use.

It is estimated that there are more than 2.2 million women of child-bearing age in Illinois. According to the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), 47.5 percent of women in Illinois drank alcohol in the three months before they became pregnant. This proportion was highest among white, non-Hispanic women ages 35 and older. The report also notes that 6 percent of women reported using alcohol during the last three months of pregnancy.

Children with a diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) face a lifetime of problems. They are at increased risk for suffering from mental illness, addictions, dropping out of school and incarceration. Beyond the human costs of the disorders, the societal costs can be astounding. 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. "As the leading diagnosable cause of mental retardation in the Western world, FASD surpasses both spina bifida and Down syndrome and needs to be addressed at the state and national levels with the same vigor for prevention and treatment as less common disorders," stated Illinois State Rep. Paul Froehlich (R-Schaumburg), a co-chair of the Task Force.

To raise awareness of this very important issue, The Children's Research Triangle created "The Listening Heart," an educational film about FASD and its impact on children and families. Cathy Rusnak is one of the parents featured in the film. She adopted her son Randy as an infant and quickly learned that he had what is known as Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE). This diagnosis has similar characteristics of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), but without the facial characteristics.

The film chronicles Randy's challenges in learning due to the behavior and sensory integration difficulties he has as a result of FAE and the modifications that have been made to accommodate his needs. "The most rewarding aspect of parenting Randy, as well as the most challenging part, is helping him be all that he can be, not necessarily what I want him to be or what I expected him to be," said Ms. Rusnak.

In July 2005, Rep. Froehlich convened the Illinois Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Task Force, comprised of family advocates, child welfare professionals and experts in the area of FASD. The Task Force met over a period of nine months to conduct research on Illinois' response to FASD and make recommendations to improve services.

The Task Force is calling on the Illinois General Assembly to establish a special committee to develop a statewide strategic plan for preventing, diagnosing and treating children, adolescents and adults with FASD.

Other recommendations include creating a training program for physicians, educators and social service providers in the diagnosis and treatment of FASD, and the creation of a statewide public awareness campaign for the prevention of FASD in Illinois.

Karel Ares, Executive Director of Prevention First summarized the key message for women in Illinois: "There is no safe amount of alcohol while pregnant: If you are pregnant, don't drink. If you drink, don't get pregnant."

The full report of the Illinois Task Force on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders is available on-line at www.prevention.org/Initiatives/FASDTaskForce.asp.