FAS, Intervention, Prevention, and Cultural Implications
Ari Den Otter-Conroy & William J. Sweeney, Ph.D.
Abstract
This paper reviews the effects of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder specifically in the Northern Plains Native American communities. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (i.e., FASD) produces a large range of mild to severe effects on behavioral, cognitive, and social abilities of those diagnosed with FASD. Diagnosis of FASD and the variability of effects contributes to many factors including timing and dosage of alcohol prenatal exposure, absence or presence of physical features, and maternal disclosure of prenatal alcohol consumption. This paper will examine cultural implications of alcohol use in the Northern Plains communities, prevention and education programs for women of child-bearing age and those who are currently pregnant, and inclusion of cultural practices for treatment. Additionally, this paper will examine current intervention treatments for individuals diagnosed with FAS, and the need for continued research of potential intervention treatments.