The Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Recognition, Reaction, and Resurgence

Abstract

Over the almost 50 years since the fetal alcohol syndrome was first described in North America, the way in which the medical community as well as the public as a whole think about this disorder has changed dramatically. Concern was initially focused on the prevalence of this disorder throughout the world. More recently however, issues relating to determining novel ways to diagnose the countless numbers of affected children with only a limited number of physicians with limited expertise in diagnosis, successful ways to teach educators ways to teach affected children, awareness of the extent to which adolescents and adults run afoul of the law, and the importance of developing promising prevention programs are all being pursued. Unfortunately, issues relating to stigma that is so damaging to affected children and their biological mothers have not been adequately addressed, which creates a huge barrier to our ability to effectively prevent this disorder.