The Canadian Society for Epidemiology and Biostatics 2012 National Student Conference

摘要

Prenatal alcohol exposure is the leading cause of intellectual disability in the Western world. Due to the organic brain damage caused by alcohol, and the resulting cognitive, functional, and behavioural deficits, people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) are at high risk for becoming involved in the legal system, either as offenders or as victims, if appropriate diagnosis, interventions and support services are not initiated early in life and maintained throughout the life-course. The objective of this study was to estimate the risk of incarceration for youths (12–18 years) with FASD, compared to youths without FASD, in Canada. Using the epidemiological data available on the prevalence of incarceration in youths with FASD and data on the prevalence of incarceration in youths without FASD in the general population of Canada, it was estimated that youths with FASD are nineteen times more likely to be imprisoned than youths without FASD, on any given day in a specific year. These alarming study findings emphasize the need to incorporate screening for FASD as early as possible in the criminal justice process. It is crucial to better understand the mental disabilities of offenders prenatally exposed to alcohol and make appropriate referrals for mental health and other services.