crack babies
Cocaine-exposed infants
Crack babies refers to infants born to mothers who used crack cocaine during pregnancy, a term that gained currency during the 1980s crack epidemic.
Media coverage predicted severe developmental disabilities for these children, but subsequent research found the effects were far milder than initially claimed.
The term is now considered dated and stigmatizing—medical professionals prefer more neutral language like "prenatal cocaine exposure." The crack baby scare influenced harsh drug sentencing policies.
- infantsVery young children
- drugsTherapeutic chemical compounds
- neglectFailure to provide care
- withdrawalsRemoval of deposited funds
- stigmaMark of dishonor
systemic racism · deprivation · substance abuse · poverty traps · cycle of poverty · neurodevelopmental · advocacy groups · pregnancies · prenatal screening · foster care systems · child protective services · social services · welfare system · low birth weight · drug dependency · cognitive impairments · developmental delays · seizures