One form of abuse a fetus can experience is the use of alcohol by the mother. A direct result from alcohol use by some mothers is fetal alcohol syndrome. Fetal alcohol syndrome is a serious health problem that tragically affects its victims and their families, but that is completely preventable. Causing a child to suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome is really nothing short of child abuse and it lasts for life. Babies born with fetal …showed first 75 words of 651 total…

…showed last 75 words of 651 total…to effectively deal with the problem. The goal must be prevention. It is up to society to deal with the problem of the pregnant substance abuser because ultimately it is society's problem. Society is affected by the increased health care costs and educational expenses attributed to the affected fetuses that grow into affected children and adults. Therefore, prevention of substance abuse by pregnant women should be the focus, and not criminalization as an ineffective deterrent.