RT Journal
A1 SCHWARTZ RH
T1 PAssive inhalation of marijuana, phencyclidine, and freebase cocaine ('crack') by infants
JF American Journal of Diseases of Children
JO American Journal of Diseases of Children
YR 1989
FD June 1
VO 143
IS 6
SP 644
OP 644
DO 10.1001/archpedi.1989.02150180022010
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.1989.02150180022010
AB Sir.—Infants and toddlers appear to be highly susceptible to the toxic effects of smoke from pyrolyzed marijuana, phencyclidine, and freebase cocaine ("crack"). In the January 1989 issue of AJDC, Bateman and Heagarty1 described the hospital course of four children who developed neurologic symptoms following passive inhalation of vaporized crack. Two of the four infants developed seizures. Accidental or deliberate exposure of infants to ambient marijuana or phencyclidine smoke in small smoke-filled rooms or in automobiles has been previously reported.2,3 When irresponsible adolescents or young adults are intoxicated, they may, as a kind of sadistic "amusement," deliberately blow puffs of marijuana smoke into the noses or open mouths of crying irritable infants to sedate them.2 Infants who ride in poorly ventilated automobiles with phencyclidine-smoking adults have developed frighteningly serious neurologic symptoms, such as coma or seizures.3 It seems that urine toxicologic screening tests for drugs