Divergent perspectives surrounding the controversial status of drug-addicted women are discussed, and common patterns of addiction and implications for policy and practice are examined. The book also addresses the tragic consequences of children born to addicted mothers and emphasizes the need for policies and resources that support their well-being. Legal issues that have developed due to women's involvement in addiction-related crime are explained, including a gender-specific crime known as fetal endangerment. The book is divided into three parts, with each part further subdivided into three sections. The first section covers background concepts and issues; the second section includes a systematic analysis of the way these issues affect persons, policies, and programs; and the third section contains a case study that explores the concepts within a real-life situation. Lifestyles of crack abusers in decaying neighborhoods are described in the first part of the book as a subculture called Crackworld. Legal options for dealing with crack abusers are considered in the second part of the book as they relate to the criminalization of pregnancy. The development of treatment programs is the subject of the third part of the book, and the focus is on two special patterns: (1) the crack lifestyle includes compulsive dysfunctional sexuality that may be little understood and difficult to treat; and (2) crack users are more likely than other substance abusers to have been victims of extreme violence. References, notes, table