of the relationship, these researchers concluded that maternal prenatal smoking is a predictor of criminal behavior in male offspring.
Babies who are born to addicted mothers may come into the world suffering the pains of drug withdrawal, as they are passively addicted to whatever substance the mother may use (Ottomanelli, 1995, p.60). Such babies may be hyperactive, lethargic, irritable, feed irregularly and sleep in unnatural patterns. They may show developmental deficits and impaired learning capacity (Ottomanelli, 1995, p.60). Such infants are vulnerable to neglect, abandonment, and eventual placement in institutions or foster care, becoming the castoffs of society. Mothers who are addicted are often declared unfit to raise their children, and the child becomes a part of the welfare system.
Mothers' substance abuse may decrease their ability to affectively parent and increase their risk of perpetrating child abuse or neglect (Miller et al, 1999, p.632). The extent of the addiction or the time
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