Infants of drug addicts: at risk for child abuse, neglect, and placement in foster care.

In a methadone maintenance program for pregnant, drug dependent women, an investigation was undertaken (1) to study the occurrence of violence experienced by the women as children and as adults and (2) to lean whether those who report past violence/abuse are more likely to neglect and/or abandon their children to the care of others. Subjects included 178 drug dependent women who completed a Violence Questionnaire and 70 comparable, but drug-free women. Results revealed that a history of violence or abuse is related to drug abuse and also to the placement of one's child(ren) in foster care.