Crack Babies Research Paper

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In the late 1980s, the nation startled after news reports brought to the public’s attention the term “crack babies,” children whose mothers had consumed cocaine while pregnant. This news led to prosecution of mothers under criminal laws that already existed, such as distribution of drugs to a minor, child abuse, or assault with a deadly weapon. Prosecution of pregnant drug users was based on the superstition that crack cocaine caused severe consequences in children, for instance, social problems, dependent of welfare system and become criminals. However, recent research disproved this believe, indicating there are no long-term effects relating to prenatal cocaine exposure. Nonetheless, utilization of illegal drugs are not safe for an unborn child. According to the American Pregnancy Association some of the risks of cocaine …show more content…

The hospital wanting to gain control of the situation and hope to reduce the number of “crack babies” began conducting drug screens without the consent of the patients, and referred those who tested positive for counseling. As soon as police enforcement heard of the situation, they began arresting. The hospital soon teamed up with the police department creating the “Interagency Policy on Cocaine Abuse in Pregnancy.” According to Ferguson vs. City of Charleston: Social and Legal Contexts, women were forcefully subjected to a drug test if they met the following criteria: “no or minimal prenatal care, unexplained preterm labor, birth defects or poor fetal growth, separation of placenta from the uterine wall, a history of drug or alcohol abuse, or intrauterine fetal death.” An immediate arrest occurred if women tested positive for cocaine. Authorities were hoping this new policy would stop women from consuming illegal substances while

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