Is there evidence to show that fetal alcohol syndrome can be prevented?

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is currently the major cause of mental retarda tion in the Western world. Since FAS is not a natural phenomenon and is cre ated by mixing alcohol and pregnancy, the solution to decreasing the incide nce of all alcohol-related birth defects is therefore entirely preventable. To date, little is known about the effectiveness of prevention programs in reducing the incidence of FAS. Therefore, it is the intention of this arti cle to review the effectiveness of prevention programs in lowering the inci dence of FAS. The present review revealed that prevention programs, to date , have been successful in raising awareness of FAS levels across the groups examined. However, this awareness has not been translated into behavioral changes in "high risk" drinkers as consumption levels in this group have de creased only marginally, indicating prevention programs have had minimal or no impact in lowering the incidence of FAS. Urgent steps must now be taken to fully test prevention programs, and find new strategies involving both sexes, to reduce and ultimately eliminate the incidence of FAS.