In five pages the damage crack cocaine can do to a pregnant woman's body and her fetus are considered in this discussion of crack babies that also includes the costs both financial and medical to babies born addicted to this substance. Five sources are cited in the bibliography.
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illegal substances. As time goes on, the situation gets worse. Crack, a highly addictive form of cocaine, wreaks havoc on unborn children when their mothers use it. The contention is
obvious, but there is controversy. There are mothers who have used their fourth amendment rights to prevent hospitals from testing their urine, for example. There are those who claim that
the crack baby myth was perpetuated for the sake of funding. Yet, one can imagine that the effects of a strong drug on a fetus can be brutal. What are
the health effects of crack on babies? How much more does it cost to have a crack baby versus a healthy baby, and what treatments might a crack baby
need? One study estimates that the national cost to care for all the cocaine babies is about $3 billion (Slade 48). Joseph Califano Jr., a retired secretary
of the Health, Education, and Welfare Department, noted that crack babies can cost as much as $1 million each to bring to adulthood, and he suggested that the children of
addicted mothers on welfare, who refuse treatment, should be put in orphanages or foster care (Grieder 52). In fact, that is why they cost the state so much money.
If mothers have the babies, and continue to use drugs, these babies who need additional attention may cost the state more than that of a healthy baby who is given
up. One million is much more than it would take to raise a healthy child. Using a 1998 projection, it is estimated that it would cost between approximately $158 thousand
to $159 thousand to raise a child to the age of 18 ("The Cost" PG). There is a tremendous difference. The reason for the higher costs have to do with