Preventing Costs and Supporting People: The Case for Investing in FASD

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) affect as many as 1 in 20 Americans yet remain one of the least recognized and least resourced disabilities in the United States. Both awareness and investment are severely lacking, even though we know that timely supports can make measurable differences for people with an FASD and their families. Early diagnosis, coordinated intervention services, and sustained community supports improve outcomes and reduce costs.

For example:

• Alcohol screening and brief interventions during pregnancy return $4–$5 for every $1 invested.
• Supportive housing programs can reduce reliance on costly emergency care, with some programs showing a 70% decrease in ER visits.
• Reliance on federal programs as a main source of income is reduced by services like the Parent-Child Assistance Program (PCAP), a holistic program for pregnant women and mothers with substance use disorders.

Investing in FASD supports across systems is simply the right thing to do. The numbers also tell us it is the smart thing to do. These supports will reduce long-term costs across healthcare, education, child welfare, and the justice system all while promoting healthier communities and stronger families.

To help make it easy to advocate, FASD United has developed two new resources:

Infographic: Preventing Costs and Supporting People

A visual snapshot that lays out the case for investing in FASD supports. This one-page infographic is perfect to share in meetings with legislators. It makes the point that while FASD is not 100% preventable, the right supports can prevent many of the most costly outcomes.

Policy Brief: The Case for Investing in FASD

The companion document behind the infographic. It provides deeper detail on the costs of FASD and how those costs can be mitigated through prevention, early identification, and lifelong supports. This analysis is especially useful when staff want data and citations to back up your talking points.

When you meet with your legislators, use these resources to make the case. Show them that investing in FASD supports not only helps individuals and families, but it also strengthens our entire nation. Legislators want to do the right thing, and they also want to do the smart thing. With your voice and these tools, we can show them that supporting FASD is both.