Kids, Crack and the Community: Reclaiming Drug-Exposed Infants and Children.

This book examines the growing epidemic of children born to mothers who use cocaine, particularly the highly addictive version known as "crack," focusing on the health and educational needs of such children. Nine chapters address: (1) the origins of cocaine use in the United States, as well as the chemical properties and physiological effects of the drug; (2) the emergence of crack cocaine in the 1980s and the psychological correlates of crack use; (3) the impact of expectant mothers' crack use on the fetus, and the characteristics of the crack baby; (4) the persistent motor, language, and behavior problems experienced by crack-exposed infants and children; (5) community policies and strategies for dealing with crack-exposed infants; (6) multi-disciplinary support systems for mothers and children, including treatment systems for crack addiction and the prosecution of abusing mothers; (7) care systems for crack-exposed infants and toddlers, and protocols for management of drug-related child abuse; (8) educational policies and practices for use by schools in dealing with crack-exposed children; and (9) classroom management strategies for use with crack-exposed students. Contains approximately 120 references. (MDM)