ADOPTION OF DRUG-EXPOSED CHILDREN

Drug-exposed children often need protection and rehabilitation and are a steadily growing proportion of children in need of adoptive homes. Nearly 25% of children adopted in California between mid-1988 to mid-1989 were, according to adoptive parent reports, prenatally drug-exposed. Preplacement experiences, and child and adoptive parent outcomes are compared for drug-exposed and non drug-exposed children in public agency, private agency, and independent adoptions. Findings are consistent that, at two years after placement, adoptions of drug-exposed children are very similar to other adoptions. Implications for practice and research are forwarded. © 1991.