KIDS OF MOMS WHO USE COCAINE AT RISK FOR BEHAVIOR WOES

Children born to mothers who used cocaine during pregnancy run a higher
risk of developing long-term behavior problems, a study of first-graders
suggests.

Teachers who were asked to rate classroom behavior reported that
cocaine-exposed children showed more problems in 11 of 14 areas, including
distractibility, social skills, hyperactivity and disorganization.

"Clearly, children exposed to cocaine were at risk for behavioral
problems,"said the researchers, led by Dr.Virginia Delaney-Black of Wayne
State University's School of Medicine.

However, the researchers cautioned that the study did not take into account
other factors that could have caused the problems-such as inattentive
mothers, or trouble in the home.

Numerous studies have linked mothers' cocaine use to problems in their
newborns, including low birth weight. But whether cocaine causes any
lasting effects is less settled.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski