Alcoholism and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

physical disabilities such as low muscle tone, a smaller than normal skull, and irregularities of the face including small eye sockets. After infancy, children suffering from FAS display nervous system disorders such as hyperactivity, learning deficiencies, temper tantrums, short attention span, inability to concentrate, and seizures.

FAS results in more babies being born mentally retarded than any other known factor. Yet it is completely preventable if a pregnant mother stops drinking alcohol during her entire pregnancy. In the final stage of alcoholism, the cellular demand for alcohol is so great that the alcoholic must drink constantly to avoid his painful symptoms. The heart, pancreas, digestive, respiratory, and nervous systems all show characteristic changes. The liver suffers the most extensive damage. About 10 percent of persons in this stage die from liver failure as a result of cirrhosis, a disease in which scar tissue forms in the liver and affects its ability to function properly. Perhaps one third persons die from accidents such as falling down stairs or drowning, or by committing suicide.

There is no cure for alcoholism. Treatment consists of total avoidance of alcohol. Therapeutic programs lasting about four weeks are recommended to support the patient through withdrawal, medically treat physical problems brought on by alcohol abuse, and educate the patient about his condition and the need to abstain from alcohol. Individual, group, and family therapy are also usually included in the recovery process. To discourage alcoholics from drinking, they are sometimes given medication that causes a severe, unpleasant reaction if mixed with alcohol. Continued support through participation in a group such as Alcoholics Anonymous can help the alcoholic adjust to life without alcohol. Many will need this type of support for the rest of their lives. An alcoholic has about a 50 percent chance of successful recovery from addiction.

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