n community. The reported rates of FAS are higher among Native Americans and African Americans. These differences may be due to actual differences in the occurrence, or may in part reflect under-diagnosis among some racial/ethnic groups, and over-diagnosis among others. Nonetheless, we must help all women to realize the dangers associated with fetal exposure to alcohol (CDC). Publicly funded treatment programs in the United States are only able to serve 11% of more than an estimated 280,000 pregnant alcohol and drug-dependent woman who seek treatment (McCuen 63). I find this appalling, in New York a survey of treatment programs found that pregnant addicted woman were refused treatment by more than half of the available treatment programs (McCuen 63). FAS and other alcohol-related birth defects can be prevented if women do not drink alcohol during pregnancy. They must use reliable birth control methods when they engage in patterns of binge drinking (5 or more drinks on one occasion) or regular drinking at a level of more than 7 drinks per week. The CDC is working to develop innovative approaches for identifying women at high risk of having a child with FAS, for helping them understand the risks that drinking poses for their unborn babies, and for helping them change their behavior. CDC currently funds projects that are testing a variety of methods (CDC). Some of the methods include Screening in prenatal clinics, Detecting cases of FAS in order to identify women at high risk of giving birth to another child with FAS, Counseling and support to achieve abstinence, Case management and follow-up(CDC). The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is implementing many prevention methods in combating FAS and FAE some of them include Collaborative partnerships with states, universities, and other organizations to develop state and locally based systems for surveillance of FAS and other alcohol-related birth defects. For instance, the CDC has worke...
