SInce 2017 at least 1663 babies have spent the first days of their lives withdrawing from drugs and received treatment for NAS, health stats reveal.
Over 1,600 Scottish babies have been born dependent on drugs since 2017(Image: Getty Images)
More than 200 babies a year are being born “addicted” to drugs, shocking new data has revealed. Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is caused by drugs – particularly opioids – passing from the mother to her unborn child during pregnancy.
Since 2017 at least 1663 babies have spent the first days of their lives withdrawing from drugs and received treatment for NAS, health stats reveal. Babies born with NAS can suffer from a range of symptoms, including uncontrollable trembling, hyperactivity, blotchy skin and high-pitched crying.
The figures, uncovered by the Scottish Liberal Democrats via freedom of information, come after the party won support from the Scottish Government in the budget to help mothers and NAS-affected babies.
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.”
Alex Cole Hamilton MSP
NAS is caused by addictive drugs passing from the mother to her foetus’ bloodstream while in the womb. These substances can include methadone and other Opioids, heroin, benzodiazepines, cocaine and amphetamines as well as caffeine, nicotine and some antidepressants.
Between 2017 and 2025, the health boards reporting the most NAS cases were NHS Lothian with 853, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde with 229 and NHS Grampian with 219. Nicola Sturgeon declared drug deaths a national emergency in 2021 after annual figures showed 1339 people had died in a single year.
In 2024, there were 1017 drug misuse deaths, down 155 from the previous year, raising hopes of reining in Scotland’s horrifying drugs deaths epidemic which remains the worst in Europe.
However, the Sunday Mail has previously told of a resurgence in fatalities in 2025 amid a rise in deaths linked to lethal synthetic opioids such as nitazenes.
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.”