This paper provides information on the incidence and prevalence of alcohol-related birth defects, the human and economic costs of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol effects (FAE), and examples of prevention and intervention strategies that can help reduce the occurrence of and ameliorate the consequences of FAS/FAE. It discusses the interrelationship of biological and environmental factors in affecting vulnerability to exposure and the implications for educating children born with FAS/FAE from infancy through adulthood. Prevention and intervention strategies include changing the drinking behavior of pregnant women through education and intensive treatment, monitoring high-risk infants' developmental progress, providing early intervention for children with FAS/FAE, and helping families learn how to cope with the demands of raising a child with FAS/FAE. Recommendations offer action steps to combat FAS/FAE, including general recommendations, recommendations targeting women, and recommendations targeting children. The paper concludes that preventing FAS/FAE through public education and treatment of pregnant women for alcohol or other drug dependencies is needed, and until that is achieved, carefully structured intervention programs for children with FAS/FAE must be developed. The paper includes a discussion of 10 common misconceptions about FAS/FAE and a list of eight resources for additional information on FAS/FAE. (Contains approximately 50 references.) (JDD)