University of Heidelberg study quantifies high economic costs of FASD

A study conducted by the Medical Faculty of the University of Heidelberg has quantified the significant economic impact of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Commissioned by the health insurance provider AOK Baden-Württemberg, the research was published in the journal Public Health.

The findings indicate that the lifetime costs for a single affected individual range from approximately 0.9 million to 1.5 million euros. When calculated per birth cohort and adjusted for inflation, the costs are estimated between 11.1 billion and 19.8 billion euros. Without inflation adjustment, the total expenditure per cohort could reach as high as 53 billion euros.

The study accounted for various direct and indirect economic factors, including expenditures for assisted living, special education support, psychiatric care, and productivity losses. The AOK noted that the actual societal burden is likely higher, as the calculation did not include factors such as general medical care, family caregiving, or premature mortality.