Despite all the hype in the '80s about crack babies and all the hysterical recurring news items about people giving drugs to their kids or babies being born addicted to opium or meth, the legal drug that still does the most damage to unborn babies is
alcohol, as evidenced in this blurb from the UK via Daily Squib:
Official statistics show there were 1 million babies registered with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) in Britain in 2004 bringing to 16 million the number born with the neurological brain disorder in a decade.
However, campaigners warned the damage done to babies from alcohol abuse is far greater than official statistics show, claiming heavy drinking among pregnant women is also linked to learning difficulties, hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder. The number of alcohol-related deaths is rising faster in the UK than anywhere else in Europe.
Click through to the story for more scary info on how FAS affects infant development and leads to life-long brain damage. I have worked with kids who have FAS, this is a serious disorder. And believe me, if studies showed that ketamine or salvia did the same thing to babies in utero, every politician in the world would be yelling like crazy to ban the demon drug and "save the unborn babies!" However, since it is only alcohol, and we all know about FAS already, no need to worry! The beneficent alcohol industry will keep us safe from this growing danger with an edgy public information campaign, don't you worry.
Now move along now. Nothing too see here...
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