The research suggests that more than 200 babies born each year are born with an addiction to drugs and have to receive treatment for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) as infants.
Margaret Minnie Pollock was brought before the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) Fitness to Practice Committee(Image: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
At least 1663 babies have spent the first few days of their lives recovering from drug addiction since 2017 according to the Sunday Mail. The research suggests that more than 200 babies born each year are born with an addiction to drugs and have to receive treatment for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) as infants.
NAS is a problem that is caused by drugs, most commonly opioids being passed from mother to child, meaning that if the mother is addicted to drugs while pregnant with the child, this addiction can be passed on.
Substances that can cause NAS include methadone and other Opioids, heroin, benzodiazepines, cocaine and amphetamines as well as caffeine, nicotine and some antidepressants.
Babies born with NAS can suffer from a range of symptoms, including uncontrollable trembling, hyperactivity, blotchy skin and high-pitched crying.
These figures were uncovered by the Scottish Lib Dems after the party won support from the Scottish Government in the budget to help mothers and NAS-affected babies.
Between 2017 and 2025, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde reported the second highest amount of NAS cases in Scotland with 229 behind NHS Lothian with 853.
Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “It is difficult to imagine a worse start to life than a newborn suffering from drug dependency. These figures are a devastating, but important reminder of the dreadful harms caused by Scotland’s drugs emergency – a crisis that has exploded on the SNP’s watch.
“By Nicola Sturgeon’s own admission, the SNP took their ‘eye off the ball’ and after the cuts she unleashed, services have been struggling to cope.
“That’s why my party was pleased to secure additional support that will deliver a new recovery service for mothers and their babies in this year’s budget. However, there is still a long way to go.
“Scottish Liberal Democrats have a realistic plan to deliver the first-rate drug services this country deserves, including a network of safer drug consumption rooms and investment in the local services best placed to stop people dying.”
Drug and alcohol policy minister Maree Todd said: “No newborn baby should be born dependent on substances and mothers should be able to get the help they need, free from judgment and stigma. We want every person experiencing harm from alcohol or drug use to be able to access the support they need.
“We have provided record levels of funding for drugs and alcohol programmes, and are widening access to treatment, residential rehabilitation and life-saving naloxone. We want to do more to save and improve lives and will continue to work hard to improve services.”