Alcohol consigns unborn to jail

lt Tv/Fleet FM breakfast news comment
Alcohol consigns unborn to jail
Youth Court judges plan new measures to identify offenders with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in the wake of research showing that 60 per cent of babies born with the syndrome eventually get into trouble with the law. American experts Kathryn Kelly and Judge Anthony Wartnik told a youth offending conference in Wellington yesterday that young offenders with the syndrome should be treated differently from others because they are "disabled, not defiant". The syndrome, caused by mothers drinking alcohol during pregnancy, has a variety of effects in different people, with a third born with facial deformations such as a smooth upper lip without the usual ridges. Ms Kelly said most victims suffered brain damage which made them unable to focus or learn from experience, easily frustrated, quick to anger and unable to understand the consequences of their actions. She said US studies showed that 60 per cent got into trouble with the law, 50 per cent engaged in inappropriate sexual behaviour and 45 per cent developed alcohol or drug problems themselves.

If this is true, I wonder what historically was the advice given to pregnant women? What if we’ve only found this out now to our detriment – let’s see “unable to focus or learn from experience, easily frustrated, quick to anger and unable to understand the consequences of their actions”, sounds like very human traits we see in many, many people. Perhaps it’s time the real costs of alcohol should start being acknowledged a little more vigorously .