Children of addicted mothers: effects of the 'crack epidemic' on the caregiving environment and the development of preschoolers

Comparison of 25 addicted mothers and 25 nonaddicted controls revealed a high incidence of emotional and physical neglect among the addict group, as well as greater tendency toward depression and more chaotic child-rearing environments. A separate study compared the cognitive, language, and emotional development of 20 cocaine-exposed preschool children and 24 nonexposed children. Although few differences in cognitive and language development were found, group differences in emotional and behavioral status, assessed through maternal report, were significant. Directions for future research are suggested.