FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 9, 2006
Contact: Christine Lynch, (907) 269-7954, Cell (907) 529-1520
Jeff Kasper, (907) 465-8194, Cell (907) 321-3158
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome awareness promoted at West Anchorage High School
Gov. Frank H. Murkowski proclaimed Sept. 9 as FAS Awareness Day
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(Anchorage, Alaska) ─ Recognizing that Alaska has the highest rate of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) in the nation, Gov. Frank H. Murkowski has proclaimed Sept. 9 as FAS Awareness Day.
Today, at an all-day summit to promote FAS family education and awareness at West Anchorage High School, Department of Health and Social Services Deputy Commissioner Bill Hogan explained the symbolism of holding the event on Sept. 9 to educate Alaskans about the negative impacts of prenatal drinking. “People from around the world are gathering today on the ninth hour of the ninth day of the ninth month of the year to remember that during the nine months of pregnancy, a woman should not drink alcohol,” he said.
“Educating Alaskans about how to prevent FAS is the key to successfully eliminating this disorder,” Hogan said, “FAS is a permanent birth defect that can be avoided by simply choosing to refrain from drinking alcohol when pregnant.”
Alaska’s documented FAS rate of 1.5 per 1,000 births means that an average of 15 Alaska infants are born each year with FAS. In addition, an average of 163 Alaska children are born each year identified as being affected by maternal alcohol use during pregnancy and possibly having a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). The Department of Health and Social Services reports that 80 percent of the 755 Alaskans tested for FAS between July 2000 and March 2005 were diagnosed with some level of brain damage resulting from prenatal exposure to alcohol. FAS affects all races and socio-economic groups.
For more information on FAS and prevention, please visit the department’s Web site at: http://hss.state.ak.us/dbh/prevention/default.htm.
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Fact Sheet: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness (PDF 46KB)
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