Prenatal Drug Exposure and Drug-Abusing Environments

Research Findings from May, 2000 Director's Report

This section lists selected summaries from NIDA funded research projects that investigate the consequences of prenatal drug exposure. The summaries provided were selected from recent issues of the Director's Report to the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse. For a more comprehensive listing of NIDA funded projects see the Director's Report.

Biopsychosocial Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes of Pregnant Cocaine- dependent Women in Residential and Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment

This study compared treatment outcomes of pregnant cocaine-dependent women and their infants enrolled in residential (N=32) and outpatient (N=32) treatments. No significant differences between treatment programs were found in retention or infant birth outcomes, but abstinence and patterns of attrition showed differences favoring residential treatment. Comfort, M., Kaltenbach, K.A. J. Psychoactive Drugs, 31(3), pp. 279-289, 1999.

Effectiveness of Comprehensive Services for Crack-Dependent Mothers with Newborns and Young Children

The Family Rehabilitation Program (FRP) is a network of community-based programs providing comprehensive services to families, including prenatally cocaine-exposed newborns, with drug-dependent parents in New York City. An admission sample of 173 mothers in 17 FRP sites was studied for one year. Average retention was 10 months; half the clients were still active in the program at follow-up. Mothers completing or still active in FRP had higher rates of abstinence and substantially lower average levels of cocaine use (by hair analysis) at follow-up than those exiting prematurely. The percent of families with children removed from homes did not increase significantly between admission and follow-up, and completing or remaining active in the program were associated with less out-of-home placement at follow-up. Magura, S., Laudet, A., Kang, S.Y., Whitney, S.A. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 31(4), pp. 321-338, 1999.