Babies born to crack-addicted parents have serious medical problems with lifelong consequences. The state can take the child away from the mother and put the child into foster care or with willing relatives. Children separated from their parents have a more difficult time adjusting to life. Crack houses create major problems for people living in the neighborhood. Long-time residents are threatened, violence becomes commonplace, and families live in fear.
Neighborhoods empty out around crack houses or people live with a sense of being trapped.
More institutions and more social services are needed. The community's sense of well being is reduced by the use of crack. This can create a sense of powerlessness and discouragement. This results in many community members putting up more walls between themselves and others. They may spend on alarm systems and other protection devices.