News

1144 West 3300 South
South Salt Lake, UT 84119
(801) 433-2900

News

Fetal alcohol damage lingers
Center helps teens whose mothers drank
By Carey Hamilton
The Salt Lake Tribune
Thursday, May 26, 2005

Chris Stuart realized her adopted daughter was different from other kids when the then-4-year-old girl began biting her classmates and had trouble following along during song time.
Melissa continued to struggle with learning and behavioral problems even after she was diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome at age 16. With earlier detection, the now-23-year-old woman's life may have been easier. To help kids like Melissa, Cottonwood Treatment Center in South Salt Lake opened in April with the mission of treating teenagers with fetal alcohol syndrome from all over the nation.

John Nelson, president of the American Medical Association, discusses fetal alcohol syndrome in South Salt Lake on Thursday. (Jim Urquhart/The Salt Lake Tribune)

During a kickoff ceremony Thursday for the new program, John Nelson, president of the American Medical Association, spoke about the dangers of pregnant women drinking. "Alcohol is the most commonly used [harmful] substance in pregnancy," Nelson said. "Women who could be pregnant or are trying shouldn't drink."
Fetal alcohol syndrome affects 40,000 infants a year, more than Down syndrome, spina bifida and cerebral palsy combined.The condition is characterized by distinct facial features, including wide-set eyes, learning disabilities, acting out and an inability to realize the consequences of actions. Most children with the disorder are placed in foster care or placed for adoption, and many get in trouble with the law or develop their own substance-abuse problems.
While Utah has a low alcohol consumption rate compared to other states, substance-abuse counselors say a good number of pregnant women here seek treatment.
Lynn Tanner, chairwoman of the Utah Fetal Alcohol Coalition, said the center is needed to diagnose, house and educate up to 70 children from all over the country, as well as support their families, if needed. Cottonwood Treatment Center is expected to become one of only six nationally approved diagnostic centers and the only one of its kind combining diagnostic and treatment capabilities in the country. The new business has contracts with the state through the Division of Child and Family Services. Children also are referred by their school districts, which can pay for care under some circumstances. Care also may be covered by parents' insurance.
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff applauded the facility and said more needs to be done to curb drinking among women and teens. He knows how distressing the condition can be - he has three adopted children who were exposed to alcohol in the womb. One of them, a boy, was born addicted to heroin and also was subjected to alcohol and tobacco use by his mother. "Why do women drink when they're pregnant?" Shurtleff asked. "It really is contrary to instinct for women to harm their child." All three birth mothers of his children told him they knew they were hurting their babies, but they couldn't stop due to addiction.
"Fetal alcohol syndrome is a major health concern for this nation and state, but the key is, it is fully preventable," he said.
Shurtleff said one of the best ways to reduce the problem is to stop underage drinking. He condemned companies that sell flavored malt beverages, saying they are marketing them to young women. The drinks taste sweeter than beer and are sold in most grocery stores next to non-alcoholic drinks. Popular brands include Smirnoff and Bacardi.
"They're made to look like drinks that are harmless," Shurtleff said. "My concern is that young women are turning to these flavored malt beverages." He believes drinking by teenagers can lead to more pregnancies, and more babies born with fetal alcohol syndrome.
chamilton@sltrib.com