Abstract
Attention to the problems of infants exposed to drugs in utero has only recently received public acknowledgement as a social issue that has reached epidemic proportions. Drug abuse is now a primary cause of infant morbidity and mortality. Current data indicate that the occurrence of substance-exposed infants (SEI) or infants that have been exposed to harmful drugs in utero has been increasing at an alarming rate over the past decade and, consequentially, there has been a marked rise in the number of affected children. The scope of the problem can best be described by an overview of some of the current studies. Such an overview is provided herein, along with a review of relevant public policy.