Babies are being born drug-dependent in that country: Latest figures draw attention

The Scottish Liberal Democrat Party has announced that 1,501 babies have been born drug-dependent in the country since 2017 due to their mothers' use of legal or illegal substances.

Based on statistics obtained through freedom of information requests, the Scottish Liberal Democrat Party prepared a report on "Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)," which occurs in babies born drug-dependent.

MOTHERS USED DRUGS

According to the report, while 1,501 babies have been born with NAS since 2017, the cause was identified as legal or illegal drugs used by mothers during pregnancy.

In the Lothian region, which includes the capital Edinburgh, 774 babies were born dependent, while 221 babies were born drug-dependent in the Glasgow and Clyde region, and 209 in the Grampian region, which includes Aberdeen.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DRUG-DEPENDENT BABIES?

The report also noted that babies born drug-dependent exhibit uncontrollable tremors, hyperactivity, skin rashes, and high-pitched crying.

Commenting on the report, Scottish Liberal Democrat Party Leader Alex Cole-Hamilton stated, "There can be nothing worse for a baby than starting life addicted to drugs."

Emphasizing that the Scottish government has failed in the fight against drugs and drug-related deaths, Cole-Hamilton criticized former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon for budget cuts applied to alcohol and drug addiction services.

Noting that Sturgeon caused these services to close or become unable to provide care by cutting their budgets during her tenure as First Minister between 2014 and 2023, Cole-Hamilton assessed that "the new budget presented by First Minister John Swinney carries the risk of repeating the same mistakes."

Cole-Hamilton called on the Scottish government to provide more support for addiction services.