Intro/DescriptionA significant health problem that exists within today's Native American population is fetal alcohol syndrome. Also known as FAS, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that rates among various Native American communities were 1.5 to 2.5 per 1,000 children born suffering from this condition. These statistics are significantly higher than the average of 0.2 to 1.0 per 1,000 births for the rest of the U.S. population (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2007). Alcohol use among Native American women has reached such a prevalence level that they are the only ethnic group in which chronic liver disease is one of the ten leading causes of death (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services social, 2007). The purpose of this trial is to evaluate the specific factors that influence alcohol use and abuse in pregnant women, as well as the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome on children who suffer from it. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is: a common cause of mental retardation that is completely preventable. When alcohol is consumed during pregnancy, it acts as a teratogen, meaning it is a substance that interferes with growth and development and is capable of causing birth defects such as hearing loss , vision loss, reduced cognitive abilities and motor impairments. A flattened midface, short nose, and a thinner upper lip are also common physical abnormalities (Tangient LLC, 2014). When consumed, alcohol in the mother's blood easily passes into the fetus' blood. Due to their size, the unborn baby has a lesser ability to metabolize alcohol, so it stays in their body for a longer period of time and can cause...... middle of paper ..... . Lack of knowledge of the causes and effects of FAS is noticeable from a young age and continues visibly into adulthood. Rising rates of violence put pregnant women at risk of turning to alcohol during pregnancy to cope with anxiety. Additionally, economic hardship, social expectations, and cultural norms can fuel cycles of alcohol use. Native American women who abuse alcohol are at risk of directly causing fetal harm and possibly giving birth to a child born with fetal alcohol syndrome. Developing information aimed at younger generations of Native Americans is a starting point focused on decreasing the prevalence of alcohol abuse. These efforts are a beacon of hope not only for Native American women who suffer from alcohol abuse, but also for unborn children who will not have to spend their lives living with fetal alcohol syndrome..