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Thursday, November 29, 2007

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 .

3 Comments:

At 29/11/07 9:06 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

My son was born almost 21 years ago and we knew back then that it was damned silly to drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes when you're pregnant because of the possible effects on the unborn baby, so it's not really a 'new' thing.

Generally pregnant women now get very strong guidelines on what they can or cannot eat during pregnancy - I think it's actually a bit extreme and over cautious sometimes to be honest ... but I guess better that than nothing ...

NS

 
At 29/11/07 10:54 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

What NS said.

Everyone has known that drinking during pregnancy can harm the unborn baby for years, decades even.

You just have to face the fact that there are scumbags out there who don't give a shit about the health and well being of their kids and even if they did wouldn't let that get in the way of their selfish and morally bankrupt 'if it feels good: do it' mentality.

 
At 30/11/07 10:38 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bollocks

Women have always been told that smoking and alccohol are a no no when carrying. At least for the last thrity years a certainty. And as one other person puts it these women are either dumb biatches or hoplessly diseased that their unborn child is likley to suffer for lack of support. Don;t get it twisted a lot of thses arses are doing shit they know they shouldn;t been doing at you see examples of it everyday with kids getting throwh into tumble dryers whacked with electrical chords etc.


_YAAS Energi

 

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