sumption (Rubin, 1995). It was in 1973 that fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) was first implicated in a range of birth defects (Jones & Others, 1973). Statistics on prenatal drug exposure have been persistently dramatic. Potocky and McDonald (1996, p. 524) cite figures showing some 375,000 infants exposed perinatally to some toxic substance are born; as a practical matter, this comes down to cocaine, heroin, or other controlled substances, as well as toxic levels of alcohol. Specifically, Potocky and McDonald note that some "8,000 infants are born each year with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)." An undetermined number of infants are born who are not FAS-symptomatic but who did have perinatal alcohol exposure. Prenatal drug exposure can be problematic for fetuses in other ways as well. Rubin (1995) says that some pregnant women are obliged to choose between baby and medication such as anti-seizure drugs or antibiotics that would be beneficial for them were they not pregnant.
Physical fetal defects have by no means been the sole focus of research. Neonatal and childh
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