This study investigated the effects of cocaine addiction on mothers' ability to care for their children. The population interviewed included 25 cocaine-addicted mothers in a drug treatment center and a comparison group of 25 mothers of children in a Head Start program. Each mother was questioned about: (1) her pregnancy with a specific child (children's mean age = 3.2 years); (2) the child's social, motor, and cognitive development; (3) her expectations for the child's future; (4) the adequacy of her resources and social support; and, (5) her level of depression. The addicted mothers were also asked how their drug use affected their ability to take care of their children. Emotional neglect or abuse of the children was reported by 60% of the cocaine-addicted mothers. Physical neglect was also reported by 60% of the addicted mothers. Children of the addicted mothers had more chaotic home environments, moved more frequently from home to home, and were more likely to have been placed in foster care than children of mothers in the comparison group. Compared to mothers in the comparison group, addicted mothers described their children as having been more difficult as infants, rated their children lower in overall development, had lower expectations for their children's future, and were more worried that their children would get into trouble in the future. The results of the study reveal that there are clear and important differences between the environments of children whose mothers abuse cocaine and those whose families are simply poor. (SM)