High cost of ‘booze babies’

$85k each bub per year

“BOOZE babies’’ left braindamaged by their mothers’ drinking are costing taxpayers $115 million a year – or $85,000 each – for disability care.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is supporting 1360 Australians

with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum

Disorder (FASD), caused when a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy.

In the Northern Territory there are 99 NDIS participants with disabilities caused by drinking in pregnancy, compared with 420 in Queensland, 405 in NSW, 133 in Victoria, 177 in Western Australia, 71 in South Australia, and 13 in the ACT.

The National Disability Insurance Agency – which manages the $22 billion NDIS – told News Corp the average annual cost of providing care to participants with FASD was $85,088.

And the government-funded Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) has warned that COVID-19 lockdowns could create a “baby boom’’ of braindamaged children, as pregnant women hit the bottle to combat stress.

ADF chief executive Dr Erin Lalor called on women to stop drinking any alcohol during pregnancy, or while trying to fall pregnant.

“Drinking in pregnancy can cause brain damage, heart problems, eye problems and learning difficulties in the baby,’’ she said.

“It happens when the foetus is exposed to alcohol at any time of pregnancy.

“Just don’t drink – don’t take the risk – there is a little baby trembling in there saying, ‘Please don’t drink’.

“We know that some people are drinking alcohol more regularly at home during the pandemic and there is a concern that we will see a baby boom, and in another nine months’ time there could be increased risks of babies with FASD.’’

The NDIA has told a federal parliamentary inquiry into FASD that participants “may require supports for life’’ through the taxpayer-funded NDIS.

It revealed that half the NDIS participants with FASD were Aboriginal.