Preview

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Legislation

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1591 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Legislation
Community Health: Virginia Legislature Senate Bill 1098
Cheryl Buckley
00738216
ODU On Site

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements in the course NURS 471: Community Health Nursing II Old Dominion University NORFOLK, VIRGINIA Spring 2011
Community Health: Virginia Legislature Senate Bill 1098 The purpose of this assignment is to introduce and involve the student nurse in their state legislative process. The decisions made at the state legislative level affect all aspects of daily life, including health issues. As student nurses, it is important to be aware of potential decisions and laws that will directly affect the care and wellbeing of patients, the community, and the profession in general. This paper will explore one health issue that has been introduced as part of the 2011 Virginia General Assembly Legislative Session.
Statement of the Issue and Related Bill
There have been well over 100 health related bills introduced in Virginia’s current General Assembly session. Senate Bill 1098 was introduced on January 11, 2011 and referred to the Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services on the same day (Virginia General Assembly, 2011). This bill would require alcohol retailers to post “a sign in a conspicuous location that bears a warning regarding the risk of consuming alcohol during pregnancy” (Virginia General Assembly, 2011, B-12). The purpose of this bill is to decrease the number of alcohol related birth defects by increasing awareness and education. This bill is related to the issue of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, which can result in Fetal Alcohol



References: Center for Science in the Public Interest. (2008). State action guide: Mandatory point-of-purchase messaging on alcohol and pregnancy. Retrieved from http://cspinet.org/pdf/state_action_guide.pdf. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2008). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/fasd. Denny, C., Tsai, J., Floyd R., & Green, P. (2009). Alcohol use among pregnant and nonpregnant women of childbearing age – United States, 1991-2005. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 58(19), 529-532. Florida Office of Drug Control, (2009). Florida’s drug control strategy. Retrieved from http://www.flgov.com/drugcontrol. Floyd, R., Weber, M., Denny, C. & O’Connor, M. (2009). Prevention of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews, 15, 193-199. Virginia General Assembly. (2011). Senate Bill 1098. Retrieved from http://legis.state.va/gov.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Like any condition, treatment for fetal alcohol syndrome is constantly emerging. Since the syndrome causes neurological changes similar to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder it was once thought that medications used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder would be useful in treating fetal alcohol syndrome.2 Conflicting results from the use of the medications challenged doctors to conduct treatment differently. Pharmacists and doctors are now looking at the chemical changes that occur during and cause fetal alcohol syndrome. Medical specialists are in a dilemma though in regards to studies. It is not common to have human subjects, especially infants and children to test out new experiments; however, pharmacists and doctors have been able to work with dementia patients and have seen improvement in damage. As with any drug, clinical trials continually need to be tested. This simply means that no specific treatment has been proven successful yet.2…

    • 1056 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    On a sadder note, Janet has had many problems with addiction in the past and has been challenged with keeping herself away from beer in larger quantities than just a few units, at times during the pregnancy. Since alcohol is a factor in this adoption, I have felt it was important that we prepare for protective steps that may be taken to prevent the damaging effects of teratogens. Abnormal development in embryos and the causes of congenital malformations or birth defects. Infants born to alcoholic mothers demonstrate prenatal and postnatal growth deficiency, mental retardation, and other malformations. These anatomical or structural abnormalities are present at birth although they may not be diagnosed until later in life.…

    • 556 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The consumption of alcohol throughout history has been one of the main cultural pastimes of the human race. Although in today's society alcohol still maintains that cultural characteristic, the irresponsible actions of a few impact the lives and rights of others who are responsible about their alcohol intake. In July of 1984, the US government under the presidency of Ronald Reagan enacted the 21 Minimum Drinking Age law (MLDA) requiring every state to raise the drinking age from 18 to 21 or that particular state's highway construction grant would be denied (MADD.org).…

    • 387 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Leading Health Indicators

    • 692 Words
    • 3 Pages

    There are many high-priority health issues otherwise known as Leading Health Indicators (LHIs) selected by the Healthy People initiative to improve the health of all Americans (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [DHHS] (2017a). These LHIs encompass every aspect of a person’s life from pre-conception through old age along with actions that can be taken to help the Healthy People initiative attain their set goals. The public health topic that I have chosen to discuss is substance abuse in the perinatal period. This interest falls under the Maternal, Infant, and Child Health (MICH) topic, specifically MICH-11.4 Increase abstinence from alcohol, cigarettes, and illicit drugs among pregnant women which also corresponds with MICH-8.1 Reduce low birth weight (LBW) and…

    • 692 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Wagenaar, Alexander C. "Minimum drinking age laws." Encylopedia of drugs, alcohol & addictive behavior. Ed. 734-739 Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. New York: Macmillan Reference USA. 2001. 16 October 2010…

    • 1668 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Mental retardation is a serious condition which includes: development delay, growth deficiencies, and damage to the brain and nervous system. It is common sense for a pregnant woman to stop drinking, and “to drink regularly throughout pregnancy, it associates with a wide variety of problems in the offspring” (Murkoff, Eisenberg, & Hathaway, 2002, p. 57). The symptoms that result from this disorder is physical and mental. The physical symptoms include: low birth weight, small head circumference, facial abnormalities—such as small eyes and underdeveloped groove between the nose and upper lip—as well as deformities of joints, limbs, and fingers. The internal symptoms include: organ dysfunction, vision difficulties, hearing problems, and heart defects—such as ventricular septal defect or atrial septal defect. The mental symptoms include: poor co-ordination skills, learning disorders, abnormal behaviour—for example, short attention span, hyperactivity, poor impulse control, and extreme nervousness and anxiety—poor socialization skills, and overall, the ability to adapt in the world. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is truly devastating. In…

    • 2151 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, is drinking during pregnancy that endangers the fetus and causes effects on the unborn. Alcohol crosses the placenta and deprives the baby of nutrients and oxygen. The consumption of alcohol during pregnancy causes physical, mental and neurobehavioral issues. It increases growth restriction, abnormalities in the brain, central nervous system with impairment in cognition and behavior, and physical abnormalities. Some of the disorders are known as alcohol related neuro-developmental disorder (ARND) and the physical malformations are referred to alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD). I have learned that some children commonly go undiagnosed, causing learning difficulties later in school. Alcohol causes an incredible damage; it interferes with the orderly development of tissues during the most critical periods. When the mother consumes alcohol, the fetus is being toxic by it. My question is why risk it or why does this happen. Every woman should be educated on this matter to prevent…

    • 638 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    There is no cure or specific treatment for FAS. However, early intervention services can help reduce some of the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome and prevent some of the secondary disabilities that result. Some of the intervention services, such as a team that includes a special education teacher, speech therapist, physical and occupational therapists,psychologist. Early intervention to help with walking, talking and social skills. If FAS is diagnosed earlier in life, more progress can be…

    • 543 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    get help, there isn’t much that can be done, they have to be willing to get help to change…

    • 3618 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    Prenatal substance abuse continues to be a problem in this country and exposes health and development risks for the developing fetus. Each year an estimated 400,000-440,000 infants (10-11% of all births) are affected by prenatal alcohol or illicit drug exposure (alcohol and drug). Almost all drugs are known to pass through the placenta and have some effect on the fetus. Prenatal exposure to drugs and alcohol has the potential to cause a wide spectrum of physical, emotional, and developmental problems for these infants. Little is documented about the long-term outcome of…

    • 1421 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    e., & Mosher, J. F. (2011). Public health, state alcohol pricing policies, and the dismantling of the 21st amendment: A LEGAL ANALYSIS. Journal of Medicine & Law, 15(2), 177-201.…

    • 479 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Emerging Adults

    • 2008 Words
    • 9 Pages

    (2012), “Not only is emerging adulthood (usually defined as the period from 18-26) an important developmental period characterized by peak prevalence of substance of substance use problems and problems related to use, it also sets the stage for later adult development.” (pg.749). Behaviors pertaining to alcohol consumption and illicit drug use are all central to a young adult’s search of identity and new and profound independence. Emerging adults are faced with a number of stressors in their lives. They are expected to have their lives mapped out in terms of planning for further education, acquiring financial independence, and maintaining healthy and happy lifestyles, (Arnett, 2005). These daily stressors are possible indicators of why emerging adults binge drink. Though binge drinking is a risk that can affect all emerging adults it was found in research conducted by Stone et al. (2012) that over consumption in alcohol is higher among male emerging adults. Coate and Grossman (1998) found that “strong drink and driving policies predicted lower male drinking and binging, not female binging”. It was also found that “Beer prices did not predict male drinking, but predicted less female under-age drink and binge.” (Stone et al., 2012). This explains how taxation and regulation are solutions that can reduce binge drinking, and behaviors such as intoxicated driving, domestic abuse and violence, and injuries. Though regulations’ and taxation are solutions that can reduce such behaviors and short term and long term effects there needs to be more of an awareness and advocacy of safe drinking in the state of…

    • 2008 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Alcohol is the most broadly abused substance among America's childhood. Immature liquor use is not an adequate transitional experience, but rather a genuine risk to juvenile advancement and wellbeing. “In 2014, more than 1.6 million people between the ages of 12 and 20 reported driving under the influence of alcohol in the past year. This accounts for almost 4.4% of people between these ages” (lynson). In March 2007, the Acting Surgeon General of the United States issued a Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking. In that report, the Surgeon General tended to the requirement for a far reaching way to deal with counteractive action that incorporates support from folks, families, schools, universities, groups, the human services framework, and all levels of government.…

    • 459 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

    • 2705 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Fetal Alcohol Syndrome has unfortunately become more common among new born children. While much progress has been made in understanding the consequences of drinking during pregnancy, it is still difficult to find the underlying damage that is caused to the child. This research paper will look at the harmful effects of FAS. The effects will look at not only the physical damage but the cognitive damage as well in the child. This research paper look at how alcohol causes Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Most importantly, this paper will discuss ways of preventing FAS and how the child cognitive and behavioral functions can be improved.…

    • 2705 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Future of Nursing

    • 1181 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Randolph, P., Hrabe, D., Compton, P., Schaeffer, R., Komnenich, P., Doshier, S., Crume, J., Cato, D. & Saewert, K. (2011). The arizona campaign for action coalition is formed of a comprehensive team of health care professionals and diverse arizona stake holders. The Arizona Campaign for Action Coalition is formed of a comprehensive team of health care professionals and diverse Arizona stake holders., Retrieved from http://www.futureofnursingaz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/FINAL_AZ_IOM_Self-Study_10-27-11.pdf…

    • 1181 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays