Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Facts
Of FAE individuals between the ages of 12 and 51:
- 95% will have mental health problems;
- 60% will have “disrupted school experience”;
- 60% will experience trouble with the law;
- 55% will be confined in prison, drug or alcohol treatment center or mental institution;
- 52% will exhibit inappropriate sexual behavior.
Of FAE individuals between 21 and 51:
- more than 50% of males and 70% of females will have alcohol and drug problems;
- 82% will not be able to live independently;
- 70% will have problems with employment
Early diagnosis can help prevent secondary disabilities such as mental health problems, dropping out of school, trouble with the law and substance abuse. After diagnosis, parents often find that their ability to cope with the child’s behavior changes dramatically when they understand that the problems are most likely based on organic brain damage, rather than the child’s choice to be inattentive or uncooperative.
21, no job, no future, nothing. Where do kids like us go?
Yeah, that’s what I am saying…it stinks.
Don’t you just hate that look of fear in your parent’s eyes? Fear that you won’t be successful, fear you will do something stupid, fear you will harm yourself. And most of all that fear that tomorrow will not be any better. I will be better, but not tonight, maybe tomorrow.
Well, I’m the parent so I can’t attest to that. I do hope that I don’t look at my son like that. I have had thoughts of my son not being successful because of where he was. But, he has improved so much with his recent medications and his school. I know he will continue to get better…I just don’t know what he’ll end up doing with his life and I hope that he will be happy. I will do everything I can to help him get there though.
I am sorry if I am down. Lost another job today because I just couldn’t keep up with the normal people. Broke my heart to tell my mom. Sometimes I feel like such a failure and wonder if they would be better off without me. She works really hard at two jobs to take care of us, and I can’t even keep a part time one.