By: Bre McAdam (News Talk 980 CJME), 20 Jan 2014
Accessed on: 20 Jan 2014
Commentary by: Krystal Glowatski
This week, a two-day meeting in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan was held where FASD experts discussed prevention of FASD in the province. The experts addressed what has been done in terms of FASD prevention over the past 10 years and worked on a plan for the next decade.
The Canada FASD Research Network estimates that there are 55,708 people in Saskatchewan who might have FASD. Minister of Social Services, June Draude, states that each of those individuals cost approximately $1.5 million in terms of health care, education, and corrections. She states that, “…more importantly it has an impact on society as a whole. The human cost within the family, within the community and within that child.”
Jocelynn Cook, executive director of the Canada FASD Research Network, explained the need to focus on “risky drinking.” Draude elaborated that there needs to be support for mothers and pregnant women with alcohol addictions, such as detox and providing doctors with the proper information to provide to their patients.
These suggestions come on the heels of recent reports from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that doctors do not often ask their patients about alcohol use. The CDC states that it’s time for a change, as the risks associated with alcohol consumption can be many and in some cases, severe. For more on that story visit: http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/alcohol-screening-counseling/
This article supports my commentary from last week, in that there’s often a heavy focus on prevention. Don’t get me wrong, prevention, if successful, would be the best way to eventually eliminate FASD. But there are still people in this province – approximately 55,708 people according the Canada FASD Research Network – who may be effected by this disorder and we need to include solutions to these individuals’ plights as well.
FASD Research Project 