Children of substance abusers: Observations and their mothers'
reports of childrearing practices The widespread use of drugs
includes women who are mothers and of childbearing age. A review
of the literature shows that women who are substance abusers
suffer from depression, low self-esteem, have poor health and
nutrition, and histories of family violence and abuse.^ During
pregnancy, addictive women often lack prenatal care. In utero
exposure to drugs is associated with multiple postnatal outcomes
which include prematurity, low birth weight, neonatal abstinence
syndrome, and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
Intelligence testing found that the children scored within the
normal range but significantly lower than the children of drug-
free controls.^ Conflicting views on the parenting of mothers
who are substance abusers exist. Deprived and poorly nurtured in
childhood themselves, they feel inadequate as parents. However,
they love their children, are capable of learning developmental
issues of childhoo