Effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on adolescent development

The associations between prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) and adolescent behavior, cognitive development, and physical growth were examined in 219 15-year-olds who have participated in a longitudinal study since their fourth gestational month. During the first trimester, 42% of the women used cocaine, with use declining across pregnancy. At the 15-year follow-up, the caregivers were, on average, 43 years old, had 13 years of education, and 50% were African American. First trimester PCE was not associated with global cognitive development or with measures of learning and memory. First trimester PCE was significantly related to adolescent-reported delinquent behavior, poorer problem solving and abstract reasoning, and reduced weight, height, and head circumference at 15 years. These results were significant after other factors that affect these domains were controlled in regression analyses. In addition, exposure to violence partially mediated the effect of PCE on delinquent behavior. These adolescent domains are important because they are predictors of poorer adult functioning.