The prevalence of alcohol use among pregnant women is over 12% suggesting that approximately 1 in 8 fetuses is exposed to alcohol in utero. 1

The most devastating consequence of maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), which is characterized by growth retardation, a distinct cluster of characteristic facial features, and central nervous system and neurodevelopmental deficits.2 Estimates of the number of live births meeting criteria for a diagnosis of FAS range from .5 to 3 infants per 1,000 live births.3 Moreover, it is estimated that about 1 in 100 children has a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) which is associated with substantial life-long impairments in neurocognitive and socioemotional development.3 Even low levels of alcohol consumption have been shown to be related to negative developmental sequelae.4-5 Furthermore, children from low-income and ethnic minority populations are particularly vulnerable to the long-term effects of prenatal alcohol exposure because their mothers are less likely to receive appropriate counseling regarding alcohol use during pregnancy.6 For these reasons, effective prevention of alcohol use by pregnant women has become an important public health priority.

Currently, no amount of alcohol ingestion during pregnancy has been deemed "safe," and the Surgeon General7 recommends that pregnant women, women about to become pregnant, and those not using effective methods to avoid an unwanted pregnancy be counseled to avoid alcohol.

Although not all children with FASDs are mentally retarded, prenatal alcohol exposure is the most common cause of mental retardation of known etiology. Both animal and human studies have revealed hyperactivity, problems with response inhibition, attention deficits, poor habituation, poor coordination, and poor state regulation to be associated with alcohol use during pregnancy.8 Learning and memory problems in children have also been identified. Furthermore, recent studies of the socioemotional development of prenatally exposed children reveal problems in conduct, poor social judgment, higher levels of externalizing behavior, attachment problems, and depression.9 Even more concerning for adaptive functioning are the findings of problems in executive function on tasks involving the planning and execution of goal directed behaviors.10 Problems in these areas lead to difficulties in social adaptation, as evidenced by the high number of mental health problems, substance abuse problems, and problems with the law in individuals exposed to alcohol prenatally. 11