A class discussion referenced a study about 23 babies that sparked a moral panic; the study concerned which substance?

A class discussion referenced a study about 23 babies that sparked a moral panic; the study concerned which substance?

• A. Marijuana use during pregnancy
• B. Crack use during pregnancy
• C. LSD use during pregnancy
• D. Alcohol use during pregnancy

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how a small study can spark a widespread moral panic when media and public discourse seize on a striking finding. In the late 1980s, a study tied to crack cocaine use during pregnancy was publicized as showing severe harm to newborns, which led to the intense “crack babies” controversy. That narrative captured headlines and shaped policy debates far beyond what the data alone might have justified, making crack cocaine the substance most associated with that panic. The other options—marijuana, LSD, and alcohol—have their own risks, but the famous public alarm tied to a study of 23 babies is the crack cocaine case, not the others.

The main idea here is how a small study can spark a widespread moral panic when media and public discourse seize on a striking finding. In the late 1980s, a study tied to crack cocaine use during pregnancy was publicized as showing severe harm to newborns, which led to the intense “crack babies” controversy. That narrative captured headlines and shaped policy debates far beyond what the data alone might have justified, making crack cocaine the substance most associated with that panic. The other options—marijuana, LSD, and alcohol—have their own risks, but the famous public alarm tied to a study of 23 babies is the crack cocaine case, not the others.