, et al., 1997). The American Medical Association (1990) reported that the rise in cocaine use among women of childbearing age is primarily due to the popularity of the use of "crack cocaine," which is a concentrated, inexpensive, and highly addictive form of cocaine.
Kearney (1995) reported that low-birth weights associated with "crack babies" actually may be attributable to nicotine use by pregnant women concurrently with cocaine use. Other research has found that pregnant women who use cocaine also are likely to be using multiple toxic agents simultaneously, as well as likely to be living in "compromising environmental conditions" (Lyons & Rittner, 1998, p. 313). Whatever the causal substance may be, however, low-birth weights and other physiologic abnormalities are associated with "crack babies" to a greater extent than is the case with infants not exposed to cocaine in the womb (Datta, et al., 1998). Eyler, et al. (1998), reported finding that prenatal cocaine use by women may impair fetal growth; that higher levels of daily cocaine use in early pregnancy was related to lower birth weights; and that higher levels of daily cocaine use in later pregnancy was related to the birth of infants with smaller heads. Ostrea, et al. (1997) reported that the mortality rates for crack babies are similar to those for non addicted babies, with the exception of low-birth weight (2,500 grams or less) crack babies whose mortality rate was six-times that of non addicted low-birth rate babies.
King, et al. (1995) reported the results of research that indicated that exposure to cocaine in the womb does
...