Fetal Alcohol Syndrome affects 1 or 2 out of every 1000 births and it’s a completely preventable disorder.

But, with the United States in one of the worst recessions in history, more and more people have been turning to drinking to ease depression. Experts recognize losing a job as one of the top ten most stressful life changes one can go through and many people do turn to drinking to cope. A more logical approach would be to turn to friends, family, or social workers, right?

But, as the old saying goes, “When the going gets tough, the tough get drinking.”

Even pregnant women can turn to drinking during stressful times, which means that the rate of fetal alcohol syndrome might increase during such a stressful time within our country. Let’s take a look at a little research… I’ll use Russia as an example because of it’s high rate of FAS children in adoption.

Drinking habits of modern societies are pretty much determined by the historical customs of it’s people. This might be why the Russians have such boisterous drinking habits. A good friend recently told me that the Russians and alcohol, especially vodka, have a long, close relationship.  In fact, the diminutive of voda, which is Russian for water, is vodka. Russian history is steeped in drink. Drinking was once the joy of Russia, a way to escape from reality, the middle stage between socialism and communism, and infinitely, a way to get drunk and forget their slave-like existence.

A little history: Back in 1991, the Former Soviet Union was in turmoil. Boris Yeltsin overthrew Gorbachev, the Communist Party sat in ruins and the economy tanked because Russia had to assume the economic hardships of other republics.  It’s no wonder that in 1993 the number of alcoholics in Russia  rose by 40.8% (and in females by 48%).

Suffice it to say, when the economy flops, people drink. This goes for Americans, too.

As the stock market continues to fall — hitting lows that haven’t been seen since the mid-1990s — and economic stability deteriorates, Americans are flocking to bars and liquor stores in record numbers. Studies have shown that throughout history, in the United States and around the globe, increased economic turmoil has resulted in a spike in alcohol sales.

As Americans, we don’t always turn to Russian Standard Vodka. Instead we may opt for  beer or wine. Or maybe a fruity drink? Or a Chocolate Martini? Whatever your taste may be, if you’re pregnant… do you drink?

According to the CDC in April 2009, about 1 in 12 (8.3%)  US women report using alcohol during pregnancy and 1 in 30 (3.3%) report binge drinking (four or more drinks). The extraordinary fact is that the drinking rate has actually decreased since the early 1990’s mainly due, in my opinion, to the national campaign against drinking during pregnancy and subsequent media attention.

The prevalence of any alcohol use among pregnant women increased from 12.4% in 1991 to 16.3 % in 1995. Compared with 1995 data, prevalence was lower in 1997 (11.4%) and 1999 (12.8%). In contrast, the rates of binge drinking and frequent drinking reported by pregnant women in 1995 remained substantially unchanged in 1997 and 1999: binge drinking rates were 2.9% in 1995, 1.8% in 1997, and 2.7% in 1999, and frequent alcohol use rates were 3.5% in 1995, 2.1% in 1997, and 3.3% in 1999.

If you look closely at these statistics you will see that the early 1990’s are marked with binge drinking and with many women reporting alcohol use during pregnancy. If you recall, the 1990’s was also a period of recession in the US. Remember the Gulf War? The Savings and Loan crisis? Gas and Oil Shock?

Is it possible that women drink more during times of stress and, therefore, that women drink more during times of economic hardship? Could be. So is it also possible that women drink more regardless of being pregnant? Statistics show this is true. If we connect the dots (based upon recent history, of course) we can theorize that women are going to be more likely to drink more during this recession AND during current pregnancies than in the last few years.

Now, I am not saying that every woman is going to drink or that every pregnant woman is going to drink. But, based upon previous statistics from both Russia and the US during VERY recent and similar recessions, can’t we assume this will happen? AND, if women are going to drink more during pregnancy, can’t we ALSO assume that there will be more children with fetal alcohol syndrome or with fetal alcohol syndrome affects as a result?

What is your opinion?