Beginning in the 1980s, cocaine (benzoylmethyl ecgonine) became one of the most frequently abused illicit drugs during pregnancy1 and also one of the most studied with regards to its potential neuro-teratogenic effects on the developing fetus and child. While early catastrophic predictions about the fate of prenatally cocaine-exposed children proved unfounded, concerns remain about “subtle” effects2 that may heighten the risk for sub-optimal developmental outcomes, particularly as children age and manifest more nuanced cognitive and behavioral functioning.
