Survey: One-third of mothers drink alcohol during pregnancies

By Staff Writer

A new study reveals that alcohol use during pregnancy is common and is associated with significant threats to the development of children.

The National Birth Defects Prevention Study reveals that nearly one-third of women drank alcohol at some time during their pregnancies. Approximately one-quarter of those surveyed admitted that they had consumed alcohol during the first trimester, the stage in which the fetus is most susceptible to the harmful effects of substance use.

Although most of the women who admitted to drinking during pregnancies were light to moderate drinkers, officials are still concerned about the potential consequences to the developing fetus.

In a longitudinal study, a total of 592 children were tracked from birth until 16 years old. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh discovered that adolescents who were exposed to an average of one or more drinks of alcohol per day in the first trimester were three times more likely to have a conduct disorder than teens who were exposed to little or no alcohol as a fetus.

Teens who have development disorders may benefit from boarding schools, which aim to help adolescents thrive socially and academically.