Long-Term effects of cocaine on Babies

I chose to research the topic of the effects of crack cocaine on fetuses during pregnancy. I was just skimming through the health articles on Popular Science, when i came across this article titled " Crack, Rats, and T Cells, Oh My!". This article discusses the misconceptions about the use of illicit drugs during pregnancy. The other article i chose was from the NY Times. This article also talks about all the short and long-term effects of drugs on pregnancy as well as legal substances such as alcohol and tobacco.
According to Popular Science, the differences between "normal children" and those exposed to cocaine where very tiny. It also states that according to research legal substances such as alcohol and tobacco have worse effects on babies then cocaine. This shocked me. Who would think that substances that are legal in our country can do more harm to your child then dangerous and illegal drugs such as cocaine.
The other article from NY Times shares a true story of two girls ages 14 and 9, who are both responsible, solid students who enjoy reading, and devoted helpers at home, are both "crack babies". Their mother used cocaine, as well as heroin and alcohol during both her pregnancies. While researchers aren't saying that cocaine is OK for a baby to be exposed to, they re saying that it is better then when a baby is exposed to alcohol or tobacco during pregnancy.
"Surveys by the Department of Health and Human Services in 2006 and 2007 found that 5.2 percent of pregnant women reported using any illicit drug, compared with 11.6 percent for alcohol and 16.4 percent for tobacco" (Susan Okie)
The news in both articles was very similar in its delivery, however both articles went about discussing it differently. The article from Popular Science was very straightforward and strictly statistically and informational. The article from NY Times was a little more personal and told the story of healthy and intelligent crack babies. I personally found the article from NY Times to be more interesting and informational. I think it grabs the readers attention more by taking it to that personal level and showing people a rela life situation and success story.
The reason i chose this topic was because i just think this is an issue that is usually somewhat overlooked by things such as war and the state of our country economically. To me, this should also be an important topic for those poor innocent children who are exposed to such harm. The amount of women who drink, smoke, and snort while pregnant is extremely large and is morally wrong.


Wallace, Julia. "Crack, Rats, and T Cells, Oh My!" Popular Science. 3 Feb. 2009. Web. 28 Oct. 2009. .

Okie, Susan. "Crack Babies-The Epidemic that Wasn't." NY Times. NY Times, 26 Jan. 2009. Web. 28 Oct. 2009. .