A study of the role of drugs in homicides committed by women included life history interviews with 42 women convicted of killing children. Repeated experiences of damage to the self, including physical and sexual victimization, suicide attempts, and substance abuse were evident throughout the lives of these women. The article discusses the extent to which these self-damage indicators interfered with the women's ability to parent children and explores links between these self-damage experiences and the homicides. Low self-esteem, reliance upon a dysfunctional partner, and feelings of worthlessness characterized these women to the extent that their judgment about safety for themselves and their children was impaired. The women hoped for a program that would help them deal with the loss of their children; there are no programs in prison for those who have lost or killed a child. In order to break the cycle of abuse, communities should provide self-esteem builders and self-care programs for new mothers, nursery care for newborns, and prevention and intervention services regarding parental needs and fulfillment of those needs. Tables, references