AGONY OF THE ADDICT BABIES

200 DEPENDENT TOTS BORN A YEAR

- BY DAN VEVERS Chief Reporter

MORE than 200 babies a year are being born addicted to drugs, shocking new data reveals.

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 Lib Dems via freedom of information, come after the party won support from the Scottish Government in the budget to help mothers and NAS-affected babies.