A DeKalb health center is doing its part to eliminate chemical abuse by expectant mothers.

The month of May features a national campaign, “It’s Your Baby.” Rick Johnson, certified prevention specialist for the Ben Gordon Mental Health Center, said this campaign brings into public awareness the affects of alcohol and drug abuse on an unborn fetus.

“We expanded the concept of Fetal Alcohol Sydrome to include drugs and we also expanded the week devoted to FAS into a monthlong awareness program,” Johnson said.

The program kicks off on May 1 with the “diaper proclamation.” Prominent members of the community such as Mayor Greg Sparrow, DeKalb school district Superintendent Robert Williams and other health professionals will sign a diaper that pledges their support to helping the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse by expectant mothers.

One out of 10 babies is born addicted to some type of substance in the United States. The statistic initiated the center to take action, he said.

“There is a significant danger and a significant trend nationally of babies born chemically addicted,” Johnson said.

The main goal of the program is to promote awareness for women thinking of having children and for those women who are already pregnant.

The program is also set up to eliminate the criminal treatment of expectant mothers who are chemically addicted.

Johnson said, “A chemically addicted person is beyond the realm of decisions. It is not her conscious effort to harm her baby.”

There are two solutions for the prevention of FAS. The first is not having the problem at all. The second is to get to the people who need treatment, Johnson adds.

For females who find abstaining difficult, they should remember the Alcoholics Anoymous 24-Hour Plan: Choose not to drink just for today. Make this decision one day at a time until after the baby is born.