1,501 babies born with drug addiction since 2017: NAS report reveals

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have prepared a report on "Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)," which occurs in babies born with drug addiction, based on statistics obtained through freedom of information requests.

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

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

The report also noted that babies born with drug addiction exhibit symptoms such as uncontrollable tremors, hyperactivity, skin rashes, and high-pitched crying.

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

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

Noting that during her tenure as First Minister from 2014 to 2023, Sturgeon cut the budgets of these services, causing them to close or become unable to provide care, Cole-Hamilton assessed that "the new budget presented by First Minister John Swinney risks repeating the same mistakes."

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

News Source: AA