han 50,000, and perhaps as many as 375,000, cocaine-exposed babies are born each year in the United States. Cocaine can affect a pregnant woman and her unborn baby in many ways. During the early months of pregnancy, it can cause a miscarriage. When the drug is used late in pregnancy, it may trigger premature labor. It also may cause an unborn baby to die or to have a stroke, which can result in irreversible brain damage (Cocaine Use During Pregnancy).
             Some babies exposed to cocaine before birth have brain damage. A number of studies have found that cocaine-exposed babies tend to score poorly on tests given at birth to assess the newborn's physical condition and overall responsiveness. They do not do as well as unexposed babies on measures of motor ability and reflexes. They also experience lack of attention and mood swings, they appear less likely to respond to a human face or voice (Dr. Israel).
             On February 4, 1989 Bianca Green and her mother Melanie, tested positive for cocaine. The tragedy of this story was that only one person survived. Bianca was pronounced dead two days after she was born. Pathologists concluded that the cause of Bianca's death was the result of prenatal injury to the fetus at an early stage of pregnancy. Prosecutors allowed a criminal complaint to be filled on May 9, 1989, charging Melanie with Involuntary Manslaughter and delivery of controlled substance. Unfortunately Melanie was not convicted of either crime (Logli, 87).
             We are glad to see that Jennifer Johnson did not have the same outcome that Melanie Green had. Jennifer Johnson w
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