Pubdate: Mon, 01 Mar 2004
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2004 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: Kendra Hurley
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n319/a10.html?23442

CHILDREN AND DRUGS

To the Editor:

Re "Home Drug-Making Laboratories Expose Children to Toxic Fallout" (front 
page, Feb. 23):

There are visible parallels between methamphetamine and crack cocaine. I am 
editor of Represent, a magazine written by teenagers in foster care, and 
many of my young writers entered foster care because their parents used 
crack. In our current issue, they grapple with the pain and shame of being 
labeled crack babies.

Research shows that crack cocaine does not have the long-lasting, 
devastating effects on babies that experts once predicted. But the myth 
persists. One especially talented writer matter-of-factly told me that 
because she was a crack baby, she would always be "slow."

We must remember that the youngest victims of methamphetamine may continue 
believing what is said about them long after the story is news.

KENDRA HURLEY New York, Feb. 23, 2004
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