Music video aims to raise awareness for FASD

Global News Thursday, April 19, 2012 3:26 PM

Every year in Alberta, hundreds of babies are born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, but a new music video released in partnership with Edmonton's Bissell Centre and the local Fetal Alcohol Network hopes to stop that trend.

“We wanted something new and exciting. Lots of times with FASD it’s the doom and gloom. We wanted something upbeat and just something different and unique. We’re trying to target more of the younger population.”

The music video was produced in Edmonton and carries a simple message – Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a life sentence and is 100% preventable.

“The alcohol will cause permanent brain damage. And so unfortunately once the damage is done, it’s done. It’s irreversible. Lots of strategies can be implemented to make life easier but it is brain damage.”

It’s a message targeted at Alberta’s future mothers, but is also meant to get the attention of a younger generation.

“To get people excited about it,” says Alaina Thursby, the FASD Community Educator at the Bissell Centre, "And I think the music really helps it’s very catchy, it gets stuck in your head quite easily. We have a ringtone to go along with it. So it’s just a new way of looking at it.”

In Alberta, it’s estimated 360 babies are born each year with FASD and there are about 23,000 people living with the disorder, like Terry Molnar who makes an appearance in the video.

“I wanted to help other people figure out what’s going on.”

The 44 year old Molnar was diagnosed just 6 years ago and now realizes how the disorder caused problems in his life.

“Half my life, I didn’t understand what was going on until that point. (The diagnosis) helped me understand it more and recognize when it happens I can call some people,” says Molnar, “Life was really destructive for me. I was in and out of jail. I couldn’t understand why I was getting into trouble.”

Molnar did the video so he can raise awareness.

“It’s like a roller coaster ride for me. Like, some days I can be ok, and the next day I’m down in the dumps. It’s like a rollercoaster ride.”

But more importantly it is to help his own children, two of whom have a form of FASD.

“It’s more my kids. I don’t want my kids going through what I went through. I can see him, he’s getting into trouble. I want to stop that before he gets older. When I went to jail that was bad and it just made it worse.”