‘Crack babies’ defy mother’s curse

By Theresa Vargas

Despite dire predictions, most are now thriving adults

Many of the crack-exposed infants ended up as boarder babies — abandoned at the hospital by parents who couldn't care for them. Some of these children have been troubled throughout their lives. But national crime rates, predicted to soar when the children came of age, have instead dropped to record lows. Despite decades of research, it can be hard to parse whether children born to crack-addicted mothers have struggled because of early exposure to drugs, troubled upbringings or simple teenage defiance.   Read more...