FASD is estimated to affect between 1% and 5% of people in the United States and Western Europe.[6] FAS is believed to occur in between 0.2 and 9 per 1000 live births in the United States.[6] In South Africa, some populations have rates as high as 9%.[8] The negative effects of alcohol during pregnancy have been described since ancient times.[8] The lifetime cost per child with FAS was $2,000,000 in 2002 in the US.[6] The term fetal alcohol syndrome was first used in 1973.[8]