Why a Campaign?
National studies estimate that five to ten percent of women across all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds abuse alcohol or other drugs during their childbearing years (K. Stratton, C. Howe and F. Battaglia, 1996; IJ Chasnoff, HJ Landress and ME Barrett, 1990). This finding is consistent with state and local prevalence studies, and would place between 300 to 600 women in Sonoma County at-risk each year.
Of the fetal or infant deaths in Sonoma County reviewed by the Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) program over a five-year period, 28% of the women reported heavy drinking and/or use of street drugs during pregnancy. Another 13% of the women reported some alcohol consumption, and tobacco use was reported by 20% of the women (Maternal, Child, And Adolescent Health Five-Year Needs Assessment For 2005-2009; County of Sonoma, Department of Health Services, August 2004).