"Crack Babies" and "CRACK"

“Crack Babies”

Charges brought against women using drugs while pregnant:

• Child abuse
• Delivering substances to a minor
• Manslaughter
• Neglect 
  

24 states have charged women for using illicit drugs while pregnant

13 states require hospitals to drug test suspected mothers

• By 2003: at least 275 charged nationally, 100 in South Carolina

Logan, 1999: Majority of women: black, poor, users of crack cocaine

• 1989: Jennifer Johnson, 15 year sentence
• 2001: SC woman who delivered stillborn baby, 12 year sentence

Rate of positive drug tests in one 1989 study: 15.4% white women, 14.1% black women

• But black women 10 times more likely to be reported to authorities
• Hospital in SC: 30 women arrested, 29 black (the 1 white woman had a black spouse)

“Crack Baby” Research

• No evidence for “crack baby syndrome” similar to fetal alcohol syndrome 
• Studies frequently don’t account for positive correlation between crack use and other behaviors known to affect fetal development (e.g., alcohol or nicotine use, poverty)
• Meta-analysis (Frank et al., 2001): “No consistent negative association between prenatal cocaine exposure and physical growth, developmental test scores, or receptive or expressive language.” 
• May discourage mothers from seeking prenatal care

"CRACK"

“Don’t let pregnancy get in the way of your habit.”

• Children Requiring a Caring Kommunity
• Founded by Barbara Harris, Orange County, CA
• Chapters in 22 U.S. cities
• Pays drug users $200 to use IUD or be sterilized
• More than $2 million in donations as of 2003

“If they choose to use the money to buy drugs, that’s their business.”

Overrepresentation of minorities:

• 49% Caucasian
• 32.8% African-American
• 10.1% Hispanic
• 8.0% Other