WHILE much of the community’s focus is quite rightly on the perils of ice abuse, we should not lose sight of the harms associated with other substances, some of which are entirely legal.
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The gathering of people in Nowra during the week to discuss Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders was a timely reminder about the dangers of drinking while pregnant.
As the attendees heard – and as some had experienced firsthand – the consequences of drinking alcohol during pregnancy can be felt throughout the child’s life, with behavioural and developmental issues severely limiting their prospects.
Drinking while pregnant is tantamount to playing a game of Russian roulette with another person’s life. Yes, you might be able to get away with it but if you don’t, the effects will be felt for decades.
It’s not only the affected children who will suffer but the carers who will be responsible for caring for them. Those gathered in Nowra heard stories about how nerve wracking it was to bring up a child affected by alcohol before they were even born.
The forum did have its positive aspects. For many who had endured the tribulations of caring for alcohol affected children, it was an opportunity to network and find out about avenues for help. A shared experience is invariably a much easier one.
However, what is needed is much greater education about FASD and, more important, how it is entirely preventable.
For those who are thinking about having children, the simple message needs to be reinforced that if you want to bring a healthy baby into the world with all the prospects of a decent life then it’s imperative you don’t take the risk by consuming alcohol.
Living with the guilt of compromising your child’s future by not abstaining would be a burden many would find almost unbearable.