The Florida Fights FASD campaign is sponsored by the United States Department of Health and

Human Services, Administration on Developmental Disabilities and the Florida Developmental Disabilities

Council, Inc. (FDDC).

The mission of FDDC is to advocate and promote meaningful participation in all aspects of life for

Floridians with developmental disabilities.

Website: www.fddc.org Phone: (850) 488-4180

Toll Free: (800) 580-7801Fax: (850) 922-6702

Email: admin@fddc.org124 Marriott Drive, Suite 203

Tallahassee, Florida 32301-2981

Facts About FASDJoin the Fight Against Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders!

•Thereisnoknownsafeamountofalcoholtodrinkwhilepregnant.Thereisalsonosafetimeduringpregnancytodrinkandnosafekindofalcohol.

•Whenapregnantwomandrinksalcohol,sodoesherunbornbaby.Alcoholinthemother’sbloodstreampassesthroughtheplacentatothebabythroughtheumbilicalcord.Drinkingalcoholduringpregnancycancausemiscarriage,stillbirthandarangeoflifelongdisorders.

•Alcoholproducesthemostseriousneurobehavioraleffectsinthefetus,morethanabuseofheroin,cocaineormarijuana.Alcoholabuseresultsinlife-longpermanentdisordersofmemoryfunction,impulsecontrolandjudgment.

• IndividualswithFASDmaysufferfromabnormalheartstructure,behaviorproblems,developmentaldelays,problemsinthestructureofthehead,eyes,noseormouth,andslowgrowthandpoorcoordinationafterbirth.

•FASDistheleadingknownpreventablecauseofdevelopmentaldelaysandbirthdefectsandaleadingknowncauseoflearningdisabilities.

•FASDcanaffectanyoneregardlessofethnicity,incomeoreducationlevel.FASDisnotageneticdisorder.

•TheproblemscausedbyFASDarenotcurable,buttheyare100percentpreventable.Clinicalandpublichealthleadersrecommendthatwomenwhoareplanningtogetpregnantorarealreadypregnantabstainfromalcohol.

What is FASD?

Living with FASD

About Florida Fights FASD Become a TorchbearerFetalAlcoholSpectrumDisorders(FASD)isanumbrellatermdescribingthepossibleeffectsthatcanoccurinanindividualwhosemotherdrankalcoholduringpregnancy.Anyalcohol,regardlessoftype,amountorfrequency,canleadtoFASD.

•FetalAlcoholSyndrome(FAS)isthemostmedicallyidentifiableandmostseriousdisorderundertheFASDumbrella.

•TheUnitedStatesspendsanestimated$5.4billioneachyeartreatingFAS.

•Eachyear,asmanyas40,000babiesarebornwithanFASD.

•FASDaffectsonein100infantseachyear–morethanautism,Downsyndrome,cerebralpalsy,cysticfibrosis,spinabifidaandsuddeninfantdeathsyndromecombined.

ChildrenbornwithFASDexperiencearangeofbirthdefects,includingcranialandfacialabnormalities,neurologicalabnormalitiesandgrowthdelays.Fetalalcoholexposureisalsotheleadingknowncauseofdevelopmentaldelays.

FASDhaslifelongimplications.Thereareabroadrangeofcharacteristicstowatchforatdifferentages.Itisimportanttobeawareofdevelopingtraitsandbehaviorpatterns.

MissionToengageandeducateFloridiansaboutthedangersofalcoholconsumptionduringpregnancy.FloridaFightsFASDiscommittedtoimplementingawarenessandpromotingeducationandadvocacyeffortsincommunitiesthroughoutFlorida.

PurposeToeliminatealcoholconsumptionbypregnantwomenorthosewhomaybecomepregnantandtoreducetheprevalenceofFASD.

Visit us OnlineWebsite: www.fasd-fl.orgFacebook: Florida Fights FASDTwitter: @FASD_FLLinkedIn: Florida Fights FASD

InorderfortheFloridaFightsFASDcampaigntoreachitsgreatestpotentialforsuccess,thesupportoflocalandstatewideadvocatesisneeded.Togetherwecanworktoovercomeoneofthemostcriticalhealthconcernsfacinglocalcommunitiestoday.

Idealadvocates,or“torchbearers,”areindividuals,businesses,organizations,associationsandothergroupswithaninterestinaddressingconcernsrelatedtoalcohol,women’sissues,maternalandchildhealthandfamilies,includingtheroleofmeninpreventingFASD.

WeneedthecommitmentofmotivatedadvocatestohelpmakethiscampaignasuccessandultimatelyreducetheprevalenceofFASDinFlorida.Weneedyou!

Become a torchbearer today by visiting www.fasd-fl.org/registration.aspx