852 Babies Born Addicted To Drugs

Scottish Lib Dems' leader describes horrific stats as 'utterly heartbreaking '

- Chris McCall

Campaigners have demanded more support for pregnant women addicted to drugs - after it was revealed 852 babies were born addicts in the last four years.

A leading politician described the situation as “heartbreaking and campaigners said more needs to be done to support women who become pregnant while battling drug addiction.

Figures obtained by the Scottish Lib Dems revealed the highest number of births where infants were suffering from neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) was in NHS Lothian, with 434 cases. There were 143 recorded by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and 118 by NHS Grampian.

NAS can result in infants suffering from uncontrollable trembling and hyperactivity as well as having blotchy skin and high-pitch crying.