Neurodevelopmental effects of cocaine.
How and to what extent fetal cocaine exposure produces specific, negative, long-term effects on infant neurodevelopmental competence has not yet been determined. We have argued previously that results from animal studies, the findings of intrauterine growth retardation in human studies, and the markedly higher incidence of numerous associated risk factors in cocaine-exposed cohorts herald significant clinical risk to the developing infant. Recognition of infant risk status should not imply condemnation of a group of children but, as with preterm infants, lead to aggressive, national, social, and scientific efforts to delineate and intervene with potential sequelae of drug exposure.
Singer
L
L
Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.
Arendt
R
R
Minnes
S
S
D000818:Animals; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012756:Sheep; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology
D003042:Cocaine