title: Are there effects of intrauterine cocaine exposure on delinquency during early adolescence? A preliminary report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To ascertain whether level of intrauterine cocaine exposure (IUCE) is associated with early adolescent delinquent behavior, after accounting for prenatal exposures to other psychoactive substances and relevant psychosocial factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-three early adolescents (12.5-14.5 years old) participating since birth in a longitudinal study of IUCE reported delinquent acts via an audio computer-assisted self-interview. Level of IUCE and exposure to cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana were determined by maternal report, maternal and infant urine assays, and infant meconium assays at birth. Participants reported their exposure to violence on the Violence Exposure Scale for Children-Revised at ages 8.5, 9.5, and 11 years and during early adolescence, and the strictness of supervision by their caregivers during early adolescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 93 participants, 24 (26%) reported ≥ 3 delinquent behaviors during early adolescence. In the final multivariate model (including level of IUCE and cigarette exposure, childhood exposure to violence, and caregiver strictness/supervision) ≥ 3 delinquent behaviors were not significantly associated with level of IUCE but were significantly associated with intrauterine exposure to half a pack or more of cigarettes per day and higher levels of childhood exposure to violence, effects substantially unchanged after control for early adolescent violence exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this cohort, prospectively ascertained prenatal exposure to cigarettes and childhood exposure to violence are associated with self-reported delinquent behaviors during early adolescence. Contrary to initial popular predictions, intrauterine cocaine is not a strong predictor of adolescent delinquent behaviors in this cohort.
authors.affiliation: Data Coordinating Center, Boston University School of Public Health, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Jessie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gerteis
authors.forename: Molinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chartrand
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Howard J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rose-Jacobs
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crooks
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Frank
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000523:psychology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D003042:Cocaine