the government published posters 1 in 80s , 90s warn people away crack.
during 1980s , 1990s, there surge in use of crack cocaine in cities: crack epidemic. during time fears arose throughout country pce create generation of youth severe behavioral , cognitive problems. studies in mid-1980s reported cocaine use in pregnancy caused children have severe problems including cognitive, developmental, , emotional disruption. these studies had methodological problems including small sample size, confounding factors poor nutrition, , use of other drugs mothers. however, results of studies sparked widespread media discussion in context of new war on drugs. example, 1985 study showed harmful effects of cocaine use during pregnancy created huge media buzz. term crack baby resulted publicity surrounding crack , pce.
it common in media reports emphasize babies had been exposed crack in utero never develop normally. children reported inevitably destined physically , mentally disabled whole lives. babies exposed crack in utero written off doomed severely disabled, , many abandoned in hospitals. expected unable form normal social bonds. experts foresaw development of biological underclass of born criminals prey on rest of population. crime rates predicted rise when generation of crack-exposed infants grew (instead dropped). predicted children difficult console, irritable, , hyperactive, putting strain on school system. charles krauthammer, columnist washington post wrote in 1989, [t]heirs life of suffering, of probable deviance, of permanent inferiority. president of boston university @ time, john silber, said crack babies ... won t ever achieve intellectual development have consciousness of god. these claims of biological inferiority played existing class , racial biases. reporting sensational, favoring direst predictions , shutting out skeptics.
reporting on effects of pce may have been affected publication bias, disproportionate publication of studies indicating more severe outcomes crack epidemic emerged. scientific studies report pce has significant effects may more published not. between 1980 , 1989, 57% of studies showing cocaine has effects on fetus accepted society pediatric research, compared 11% of studies showing no effects. findings other factors such prematurity behind symptoms cocaine-exposed babies showed did not fit within narrative of had become national scare , given less attention. ideas severe effects of pce may have been more readily embraced because fit in cultural stereotypes .
at time, proposed mechanism cocaine harmed fetuses stimulant—it predicted cocaine disrupt normal development of parts of brain dealt stimulation, resulting in problems bipolar disorder , attention deficit disorder. reports mid-1980s 90s raised concerns links between pce , slowed growth, deformed limbs, defects of kidneys , genitourinary , gastrointestinal systems, neurological damage, small head size, atrophy or cysts in cerebral cortex, bleeding brain s ventricles, , obstruction of blood supply in central nervous system.
after studies reported pce children severely disabled came studies purported show cocaine exposure in utero has no important effects. every prenatal complication thought due directly pce found result confounding factors such poor maternal nutrition, use of other drugs, depression, , lack of prenatal care. more scientific community has begun reach understanding pce have important effects not severe predicted in studies. effects of pce subtle exist. people exposed cocaine in utero normal or close it.
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