Sep 6, 2013 By Erica Usher 2 min read

Wednesday, Sept. 9, will mark the 14th anniversary of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day.

FASD is an umbrella term that describes a range of disabilities that occur as a direct result of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. For over a decade now, the FASD awareness message has gone out every year on the ninth day of the ninth month of the year, warning women about the dangers of drinking while pregnant.

And still, nearly 30 years since the U.S. Surgeon General began warning women about alcohol-related brain damage to infants, FASD remains below the national radar of recognizable diseases. The sad truth is that FASDs are the leading cause of mental retardation in the United States and Canada and they are 100 percent preventable.

Children exposed to alcohol in utero are prone to poor judgement and impulsivity and are often unable to grasp cause and effect. FASDs can include physical or intellectual disabilities, as well as problems with behavior and learning. These symptoms can range from mild to severe and are often initially misdiagnosed.

On Sept 9, there will be another chance to spread the word about FASD. At that time, the Fayette County Courthouse bells will ring nine times to kick off an Awareness March down Main Street, Uniontown. Whether or not you can be in attendance, our whole community can take part in spreading this important message.

It is rare that we can definitively say that a life-impairing disability is 100 percent preventable. If all women abstained from alcohol use while pregnant, no more children would be born with an FASD. Please take the time to remember that, reflect upon it and pass it on. Working together is our best hope for success.

Erica Usher is a prevention supervisor for the Fayette County Drug and Alcohol Commission, Inc.