Policy Pick: Combatting Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Authored by Assemblyman Jim Beall (D-San Jose), AB 540 would set up a program that provides voluntary alcohol and drug screening for Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are pregnant or of childbearing age. Under the bill, for every local dollar invested, counties would receive a dollar match from the federal government to cover these services.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is one of the preventable causes of birth defects and developmental disabilities. Prenatal exposure to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs has been proven to severely damage development, formation and functioning of the fetal brain. In the U.S., as many as 12,000 infants are born each year with FAS, and three times as many have Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder or Alcohol-Related Birth Defects.

To reduce infant exposure to FAS, screening and brief intervention procedures were developed to evaluate and assist pregnant mothers at risk for potential substance abuse. The primary goal is not to identify alcohol- or drug-dependent individuals for referral to treatment, but rather to discourage risky drinking and drug use while pregnant.

Research has shown that prevention, intervention and screening can reduce the number of infants exposed to FAS, while reducing healthcare costs in the long term. An evaluation of 20 counties found a definitive decline in substance abuse rates during pregnancy. Despite this, screenings and brief interventions are not yet widely utilized in primary care settings, emergency rooms, state licensed facilities and clinics.

AB 540 was approved by the State Assembly in early June and is slated to be heard by the State Senate Health Committee in the next few weeks. For more information, please contact First 5 LA Policy Analyst Josh Kruskol at jkruskol@first5la.org.

Additional Reading:

• Perinatal Substance Use Screening In California 

• California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs: Screening and Brief Intervention Toolkit 

• Screening & Brief Intervention: Making A Public Difference