, especially when studying those groups most at risk of substance abuse.
             Other problems concern the difficulty of isolating the effects of a particular substance and determining the relationship between the effects and both the amount of a substance used and when it was used during pregnancy.
             Finally, individual studies and the pool of accessible research may reflect a bias. Koren (1989), for example, found that reports concluding that there are minimal reproductive hazards associated with maternal use of cocaine were less likely to be accepted for presentation than reports finding greater hazards. Alcohol related researches were more likely to be presented because the results were more pronounced.
             Alcohol consumption during pregnancy may result in miscarriage or stillbirth, premature delivery, mental retardation, an infant that is small for the gestational age, facial or cranial malformations, major organ defects, slow growth, poor coordination, hyperactivity, learning disabilities, and death.
             Examination of the baby may show a heart murmur or other evidence of cardiac anomalies. As the baby grows, there may be evidence of delayed mental development. Signs of FAS can include mental retardation, growth deficiencies, central nervous system dysfunction, heart malfunctions, and major behavioral problems.
             There are some tests that physicians can implement to determine FAS. Ultrasound in pregnancy can demonstrate the presence of intrauterine growth retardation. Echocardiogram or ECG measures the infant's heart rate and the sound of the beats. Toxicology screens measures the alcohol level in a mother's blood stream.
             There is no cure for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Once the damage is done, it cannot be undone. However, FAS is the only cause of defects that can be completely prevented.
             The easiest way for a woman to prevent FAS is to not drink during pregnancy. Communities, schools, and concerned individuals can help to pr...