NCJ Number
128083
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 36 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1990) Pages: 34-39
Date Published
1991
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A series of six case studies, compiled from information collected at the Rhode Island Medical Examiner's Office, analyzes the pathologic, toxicologic, birth, development, and social data on the cocaine-related deaths of infants.
Abstract
All the cases have positive confirmation of cocaine or metabolites or both in the mother or baby's urine or both. The causes of death, occurring from a developing fetus to young infants past one year of age, include inter alia, an intrauterine death of a fetus, anoxic encephalopathy at birth, traumatic compression asphyxia, and infectious cardiomyopathy with heart failure. The extent of this epidemic demands aggressive, intensive monitoring of young children in high risk families and more interaction between medical, social, and educational groups. A careful obstetrical history and urine testing prior to and at birth is also essential. 11 references (Author abstract modified)