What happened to the epidemic of crack babies who were going to grow up with severe deficits, threatening to overwhelm the schools and cost the country billions of dollars to care for them?
To find out, take a look at this 12-minute video clip on the Retro Report page of The New York Times. The department's tag line is "The truth now about the big stories then."
What you will find out is that the hysteria over the crack babies who were "born addicted" was vastly exaggerated, based upon a study of only 23 babies. One critic in the Times video notes that some of the supposed features of crack addiction in infants, such as a rapid shaking of the arms, were a consequence of premature birth, not or crack addiction.
It's fascinating to look back. I found it so interesting that I dug up one of my stories on this from the archives of The Associated Press, only to find that I didn't express any of the skepticism that I perhaps should have.
The Retro Report, which was just launched by the Times, also has a look back at the Y2K bug that was supposed to disrupt computers around the globe, and the famous 1987 voyage of the garbage barge that could find no place to dock and discharge its cargo.
This is a worthwhile feature, and the Times is doing it well. I suspect we will see more technology, health, and environment stories, and maybe–just maybe–a few science stories. Cold fusion comes to mind.
Take a look. I think you will want to bookmark this one.
-Paul Raeburn
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