Introduction
Infants born to women using crack/cocaine, known as “crack/cocaine babies” have received a lot of stigmatization from the media because of their potential burden to the society (Konkol & Olsen, 1996). The debate between medical findings and the general public and media alike has been heated like never before ever since the cocaine use rose. Even though both sides of the divide appeared to be in agreement that such infants were doomed for the rest of their life, presently the whole scenario has changed and the debate is on despite no apparent concrete research finding favoring any side of the divide. Children undergo several lifespan changes that can be categorized as physical, cognitive and psychological developments. It is therefore possible to deduce that if one developmental aspect is interfered with, then the childe is likely to be incomplete self. Boyd & Bee (2006) divide lifespan development into eight major periods of human development. These are infancy and toddler, early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood and late adulthood (p.7). it is important to note that these divisions are important in the understanding that these developmental stages are interconnected and continuous, hence any disruption will interfere with the system psychologically, physically, and socially.
Main Body
The controversy surrounding cocaine use has surrounded the public domain for quite long. The unprecedented increase in cocaine use in 1980 as a result of a drop in its price was the beginning of the debate; a scenario that was worsened by the perceived effect it has on the unborn child from mothers who consume it (Konkol & Olsen, 1996). Since then infants born to women using crack/cocaine, termed as “crack/cocaine babies” have received a lot of stigmatization from the media because of their potential burden to the society (Konkol & Olsen, 1996). The pendulum of medical findings and researchers on one side Vs lay media and general opinion leaders has swung ever since the cocaine use rose. Initially, both sides of the divide appeared to be in agreement that such infants were doomed for the rest of their life, but at present, the whole scenario has changed with the current potentially informed opinion that cocaine use has very minimal, if any, impact on the unborn babies from mothers who consume the drug.
Despite the lack of solid information on the long-term consequences of fetal cocaine exposure perpetuated by inconsistent findings, there is the possibility of this illicit drug having effects on the unborn babies. This is because as normally known, a lifespan development basically begins at conception all the way to death. The many development stages that children go throughout their life can be categorized as physical, cognitive and psychological developments (Sigelman & Rider, 2008). It is therefore possible to deduce that if one developmental aspect is interfered with, then the childe is likely to be incomplete self.
The physical development involve the growth of body and its organs, physical signs of aging and the motor ability; cognitive development is concerned with the child’s thinking ability, i.e. the way the child will think and perceive the world and its creatures, language learning ability, capacity to memorize, and the problem solving skills (Sigelman & Rider, 2008). Psychological development is involved in changes in the child personal and interpersonal developments such as social relationships and emotions; emotional development on the other hand gives the child ability to feel the emotions such as guild or pride (Sigelman & Rider, 2008). Social development does affect the children’s understanding of such things as friendship, interaction with others, and sharing; each of these developments in encompasses a child product and they influence each other (Sigelman & Rider, 2008).
Boyd & Bee (2006) divide lifespan development into eight major periods of human development. These are infancy and toddler, early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood and late adulthood (p.7). All through these life stages, a fully developed human must pass through these stages one by one. That is to say as a child is conceived, the development process begins straight a way. The toddler begins to think, learn language, and develop personality characteristics (Konkol & Olsen, 1996). During the middle age, such things as school, family, and friends become very crucial in the process of development since they shape personality and cognitive development (Konkol & Olsen, 1996). The phase that sees a child enter adulthood comes with sexual development and apparent dramatic physical change (Sigelman & Rider, 2008).
The major concerns in the contemporary lifespan development theories are related to an effort to balance nature on one side against nature and continuity and discontinuity. The experimental factors as well as contributions of the biological process are considered to be nature versus nature (Boyd & Bee, 2006, p.7).
Accordingly some believe that nature shapes individuals from conception and that children are born with certain behavioral traits, which are innately biased and inborn throughout their lifespan. But logically speaking, these patterns may be as a result of parental and /or genetic environment. The believers in nature as the shaper think of certain experience depending on the perception of an individual. Continuity and discontinuity on the other hand is concerned with the long standing debate of whether the changes that occur due to age are basically dependent on just such parameters as amount, degree, type or kind only (Sigelman & Rider, 2008). In this case, a child’s number and types of friends is dependent on age, that is, a particular age will come with a particular number and types of friends. These differences related to age are classified as either universal, group specific and individual changes (Boyd & Bee, 2006, pp, 9-11). Even though changes in individual are due to genetic factor and the timing of experiences, everyone or every child for that matter is unique to his or her own genetic make ups such as physical traits, genetic disorders, intelligence and personality (Boyd & Bee, 2006 pp. 9-11). This means that an individual’s overall make-up should be continuous uninterrupted and that any form of interruption even at conception is bound to impact negatively in the child lifespan development.
The influence of environment can present another complex aspect of child development. At conception, a child undergoes several aspects of changes. This change is influenced by the environment of exposure (Guest, 2008). The genes are considered to determine the overall being of an individual. However, genes can be modified depending on several external factors supported by the environment. This change or interference of developmental process can be adverse especially if the process of exposure is long, gradual and persistent (Guest, 2008).
Children gradually goes through different stages of cognitive development; intelligence and personality traits throughout childhood can merge into adulthood (Guest, 2008). Even though this continuity may have a chance for change, a child born intellectual may lose this status in case they undergo some abuse and neglect, a highly likely scenario for a drug addict mother (Guest, 2008). Furthermore, biological beginnings are always considered to be the product of environmental influence (Guest, 2008). In a matter of practicality, all the beginnings of developmental stages are more biological than cognitive or sociological or both. It is thus reasonable to conclude that the consumption of cocaine by pregnant mother has a possible adverse effect on the unborn child’s overall lifespan development.
In a study to ascertain whether there was a difference in the developmental experience between two groups of inner city postpartum patients (i.e. those who used cocaine during pregnancy and those who did not), some peculiar findings were revealed (Glanter, Lifshutz & Egeiko, 2003). A retrospective structured interview was administered to 80 postpartum women examining demographic characteristics, adaptive function, drug use patterns, and selected risk factors for adult substance abuse encountered before age 16, and the sample was divided into two cohorts of women: 40 women identified by urine tests of their babies as using cocaine shortly before delivery and a comparison group of 40 women not identified by positive urines (Glanter, Lifshutz & Egeiko, 2003). Comparisons between the two cohorts revealed that the cocaine identified women had significantly higher overall past and present use of a broad range of drugs, particularly crack and other forms of cocaine, as well as lower levels of general adaptive functioning despite the fact that they were demographically comparable (Glanter, Lifshutz & Egeiko, 2003). Comparison with nonusers displayed markedly elevated scores on measures of developmental risk factors for adult substance use (Glanter, Lifshutz & Egeiko, 2003).
The study clearly reveals the significance of early developmental risk factors on later drug use during pregnancy and general adult adaptive functioning. It is also interesting that the study connect cocaine consumption to consumption of other wide range of drugs. It is thus worth noting that the developmental risk factors such as cocaine consumption can have adverse effect on the child development at all stages of life. It could be noted that this study may be insufficient in its methodological aspect, but it is almost obvious that just like any other drug and substance abuse, cocaine could present another mix of problems as relates child development.
Conclusion
Lifespan development continues to generate a lot of debate as concerns the dug use. Of all the debates, prenatal exposure to drugs such as cocaine with the possibility of creating crack babies has been on the public domain and is expected to continue dominating the science of lifespan development in years to come as long as no concrete study (or studies) comes up with proper methodologically done research. However, even amidst this theoretical debate, one must note that longevity of life is as important as debate itself, and the increased realization that each stage of lifespan development is important to the individual’s and the society wellbeing in the long run should invoke the urgency of the matter. Through interaction with their physical environments right from the mother’s womb, midway to the attachment to the loving parents and family members after birth, and ending with interaction of with the world, the development of an individual is a long journey and one that should never be forsaken at any stage of life.
Every individual is unique on his or her own way, thanks to the genetic make up. However, throughout the lifespan development, time and energy shape individuals progressively and people can change, with the show or display of different characteristics at different ages. However, the fact that all humans experience universal change is no reason enough to dismiss the high held perception that cocaine can be dangerous for the unborn child lifespan development. Furthermore, the change is only unique to a particular age, and not all.
Reference
Boyd, D., & Bee H. (2006). Lifespan Development (5th Ed). New York: Allyn & Bacon.
Galanter, P., Lifshutz H., & Egeiko S. (2003). Developmental risk factors in postpartum women with urine tests positive for cocaine. American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse, Vol. 19, Issue2, pp.187-197.
Guest, A. (2008). Taking Sides Clashing Views in Lifespan Development (2nd Ed.). Dubuque, Iowa: McGraw-Hill.
Konkol, R.J., & Olsen, G.D. (1996). Parental Cocaine Exosure. Beaverton: Oregon Health Science University.
Sigelman, C.K. & Rider E. (2008). Lifespan Development (5th Ed.). CA: Wadsworth Publishers.