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Abstract
The increased number of women who use cocaine during pregnancy has created special problems for health practitioners. Research data have linked cocaine to variations in infant behavior and development (Chasnoff, Burns, Schnoll, &Burns, 1985). Health-care workers in an increasing number of state-initiated programs provide services to children whose mothers are suspected or confirmed substance abusers. These programs are designed to enable rapid assessment of the family and home situation to determine if the family environment is appropriate for infant discharge into the home. Because community health nurses (CHNs) are frequently the ones who make such family and home assessment visits, it is crucial for nurses to expand maternal and infant assessments to include indicators of possible cocaine abuse.