A bill presently referred to as 864R0096 by our state congress has been debated in committee and will be voted on in the 2010 legislative session.

It is one that shouldn’t even be considered. I have no idea who brought it up or why they are considering it, but it must be someone who is not aware of the health implications. 

I am writing this column to make you aware of it so you can contact your state congress members to ask them to stand up against it if you so choose.

Advertisement

What  864R0096 states is exactly this (take right from the legal document online):

“An Act to repeal certain sign display requirements relating to the consumption of alcohol by pregnant women.”

According to the Department of Health, it costs the state just $200 annually to post these signs. That’s not a lot of money for a state. So, the reason behind this repeal cannot be financial.

Some lawmakers might point to a current South Dakota law that says pregnant women can be forced to go to treatment centers by a judge if their alcohol abuse is reported.

But, my fellow Partners-in-Policymaking graduate, who did most of the research on this topic, said the physicians she talked to said they wouldn’t report a mom-to-be because they feared losing her business.

Many physicians would speak out, I am sure, and the law I just referred to is a good one. Yet, a physician can only report alcohol abuse if they know about it. Patients don’t always tell their doctors everything.

Isn’t it easier if the women who drink are reminded again and again how alcohol endangers a growing unborn baby even before these women decide to have children? And what if a pregnant woman goes to buy alcohol and sees one of these signs? Maybe it will help her to decide to stop drinking or to get help.

Lawmakers, why not keep this law, plus remind those who sell alcohol to post these signs?

Why should any of us care? Because pregnant women who drink alcohol endanger their growing unborn babies.

There are many symptoms of alcohol-related problem development. Following is a list of just a few:

Several facial differences, neurological damage, problems in learning, poor memory, mental retardation, poor language skills, poor social skills, short attention span; heart murmurs, heart defects, failure-to-thrive; extra fingers, anxiety, psychiatric problems, criminal behavior, substance abuse problems, chronic unemployment.

Alcohol-related neurodevelopmental issues are totally preventable. Women just need to stop drinking during pregnancy. The rate of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and fetal alcohol effects is huge in South Dakota, much more so than in other states.

One of the children we adopted had a birth mom who abused alcohol and drugs. I know first-hand how this affects a child. Thankfully, my child has a great support system and is learning so much. We have great hope for him and his future.

This isn’t the case for many of the children born with these totally preventable issues.

Please take time to contact your state lawmakers and urge them not to support this repeal.

Jane Hinrichs lives with her husband Shannon and their six children on the south edge of Blunt.