Module 7: Costs of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Data Sources
Very little data are available on the cost of FAS, and none have been found for alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD) or alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND). Many sources discuss the cost of substance abuse, but few specifically address FASD. Information found to date is from the 1980s to the mid-1990s. A search for more recent data primarily yields references or updates to earlier work.
Over 30 reports, articles, and other publications include references to the cost of FAS. More than 80 Internet sites also discuss the issue. Most cost information falls into two categories:
- Total annual cost of FAS to the Nation
- Lifetime cost of each child born with FAS
The Lewin Group recently updated cost figures and calculated costs for each State and the District of Columbia. Based on a mid-range FAS prevalence rate of 1 per 1,000 live births in the United States, approximately 294,000 individuals age 0 through 77 years have FAS. Direct services for these individuals cost $2.7 billion in 20042. Costs are associated with health care treatment as well as other services, such as special education.
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