STAT+: 1 in 8 women drink during pregnancy. Experts dread the consequences

One in eight pregnant women in the US reported drinking alcohol in the past month, with a quarter of them engaging in binge drinking, according to a STAT analysis of 2024 government data. This behavior can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), which affect an estimated 1 in 20 school-aged children. The consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure are a concern for experts.