Bill to help ‘alcohol babies’ recommended

Tuesday, March 9, 1999 | 11:46 a.m.

SB197 creates an advisory committee to deal with fetal alcohol syndrome and educate the public. It is sponsored by Sen. Valerie Wiener, D-Las Vegas, and seven others.

Wiener and Dr. John Yacenda, deputy director of the state's Human Resources Department, said Monday the program won't force information on people and will be aimed at encouraging "informed choices."

"We want this to be participatory," said Yacenda, who estimated 20 percent of women in Nevada drink while they're pregnant. "The structure of this bill is really to create a structure and an infrastructure that will allow that to happen."

Wiener, who pledged $1,000 of her own money to the effort if the bill passes, said the bill was inspired by her trip to a juvenile justice conference in March 1998, where she realized the extent of the problems fetal alcohol syndrome poses.

The syndrome occurs when pregnant women consume alcohol, which can cause developmental and physical defects in their babies that may lead to lifelong behavioral problems. These "alcohol babies," said Wiener, cost an estimated $1.5 to $2 million each to treat.

Dr. Colleen Morris, a pediatrics professor at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, said fetal alcohol syndrome is reaching "epidemic" proportions in Nevada despite being "completely preventable."