Study challenges ‘crack baby’ phenomenon: “The ‘crack
baby’ phenomenon is overblown, according to a
study that suggests poverty and the use of
cigarettes, alcohol and other drugs while
pregnant are just as likely as cocaine to cause
developmental problems in children.

Blaming such problems on prenatal cocaine use
alone has unfairly stigmatized children, creating
an unfounded fear in teachers that ‘crack kids”
will be backward and disruptive, according to the
study, an analysis of 36 previous studies.” SF Gate