Perhaps nothing generates more hand wringing in discussions of Russian adoption than Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Volumes have been written about it, by folks with far better scientific credentials than me. But it needs to have a place on this blog for information and discussion, and I thought I should start with the basics. So here are five things to know about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome:

1. What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome? It is a disorder--a range of problems--caused by a birth mother’s drinking during pregnancy. The birth father’s alcohol consumption does not now appear to be a factor. But just how much maternal drinking is a problem is still an open question. Scientists and medical professionals are devoting a lot of effort now to studying how different levels of drinking during a pregnancy affected a child. Not all children whose birth mothers drank will have FAS. The collective wisdom, however, is that it is best for a woman to not drink while pregnant.

2. What are the effects of FAS? They can range from moderate to severe, from learning and behavioral problems to physical changes. Studies have found that FAS children can have trouble with reading, spelling and math. But some have perfectly normal IQs.

3. How do I know if the child referred to me has FAS? You don't. Not with 100% certainty, that is. Many of the adoption medicine practices have instructions on their Web sites on how to photograph the child you have been referred so that they can look for physical signs. In Russian regions that still provide detailed information on referrals, the child's medical history may contain information on whether the birth mother drank.

4. Is Russia the only place with an FAS problem? No, but it may be more pronounced in Russia. The Center for Adoption Medicine at the University of Washington notes that the rate of FAS in Russian orphanages has been estimated at 1-10 per 100 children, versus 1-3 per 1,000 children in the U.S. But states like Arizona and Alaska, and countries like Canada are casting an ever more watchful eye on FAS. And recent news reports have noted that, as China's economy grows, so does its consumption of alcohol.

5. What can be done for my child if he/she has FAS? The Mayo Clinic calls FAS "irreversible". But doctors, teachers and other professionals who interact with children are learning that children with FAS, as those with so many other permanent conditions, can thrive with the right support. That seems to start with a good home and attention to good school and social habits.

Yes, I know that I have simplified a lot. But I hope to come back to each of these points in greater detail. In the meantime, you may want to read the three-part piece on FAS that appeared in Monday's St. Louis Post-Dispatch.