The construction of the crack babies phenomenon as a social problem.

Abstract

Early negative findings on cocaine-exposed newborns engendered widespread media and public perceptions of a causal link between poor mothers' substance use and serious problems in their offspring. Despite later research questioning the prevalence of the problems and implicating other environmental and economic factors, these mothers were stigmatized and criminalized, and their children precipitously removed from their care. This paper reviews the process by which this came about and urges a more balanced and complex view of the problem.

Uma visão psiquiátrica sobre o fenômeno do crack na atualidade

“…Sabe-se que o uso de crack durante a gestação pode desencadear abortos espontâneos, prematuridade, diminuição no crescimento do feto e outras alterações perinatais. Além disso, aqueles que nascem vivos podem apresentar retardo mental ou outros transtornos mentais e comportamentais que trarão sérias conseqüências para suas vidas 9,10 .…”

Women-Centered Drug Treatment Services and Need in the United States, 2002–2009

“…4,9,11,12 Despite an emphasis on substance use disorder treatment of women over the past 30 years, including increased federal funding, the availability of women-focused services has not changed significantly over time. 6–8 Our results show that not only does a discrepancy still exist between treatment need and availability, but it may be worsening. This is supported by our observation of decreased availability of women-centered, child care, and pregnancy and postpartum services from 2002 to 2009.…”

“…6,7 In 1988, the Anti-Drug Abuse Act allotted 10% of federal war on drugs funds to women-centered treatment programs, with an emphasis on programs targeted at pregnant and postpartum women. 8 In recent decades, interest in researching, designing, and implementing gender-specific treatment has increased, and outcomes for substance-using women have improved.…”

“…9 Studies have found that women in programs that offer services tailored to their unique needs have higher retention rates (or lower dropout rates), show reductions in substance use, and report fewer barriers to care. 6,7,9–12 …”

Developmental Effects of Prenatal Cocaine Exposure on 5-HT_1A Receptors in Male and Female Rat Offspring

“…Although the magnitude of the physiological and neurobehavioral deficits engendered by prenatal exposure to cocaine continues to be debated [Lyons and Rittner, 1998], there seems to be general agreement that prenatal cocaine exposure can lead to multiple anatomical and physiological impairments, including decreased birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction, decreased head circumference, premature delivery [Bresnahan et al, 1991;Kelley et al, 1992;Koren et al, 1998;Scafidi et al, 1996], ophthalmic and auditory defects [Church et al, 1998], cardiac dysfunction, e.g. fetal tachycardia and heart rate variability [Hume et al, 1989], and gastrointestinal maladies [Plessinger and Woods, 1998].…”