Researchers have identified three variables to explain the diversity among children born to cocaine/polydrug using women: (1) the dysfunctional family histories of the maternal user; (2) the purity, dosage, and regularity of illicit drugs used during pregnancy; and (3) subsequent mother-child interaction following birth and during formative developmental milestones. This investigation examines the authenticity and relatedness of drug-exposed children in both foster and biological homes and compares and contrasts the findings to another vulnerable population, pre-term infants. The researcher studied the intervention needs of four young children who experienced cocaine/polydrug exposure in-utero, along with the needs of their maternal care givers. These four children were then compared to a control group of two like-aged, pre-term infants. Evidence indicated that the mothers perpetuated dysfunctional/generational family life-styles in the biological homes of drug-exposed children. All of the children appeared to be physically normal at the time of research and social service records indicated adequate supervision of the children. The socially constructed identity, "crack baby," did not emerge for the in-utero-exposed children. Variables associated with fetal drug-exposure may become more evident when the exposed children enter school. (Contains 63 references.) (RJM)