{"id":673627,"date":"2026-01-04T16:36:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T16:36:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/673627\/"},"modified":"2026-01-04T16:36:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T16:36:12","slug":"more-than-1600-newborns-in-scotland-with-drug-dependence-since-2017-figures-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/673627\/","title":{"rendered":"More than 1,600 newborns in Scotland with drug dependence since 2017, figures show"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than 1,600 babies have been born dependent on drugs since 2017, according to figures obtained by the Scottish Liberal Democrats.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Freedom of information requests showed at least 1,633 newborns in Scotland have received treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).<\/p>\n

NAS results in a number of symptoms in a newborn baby which is withdrawing from addictive substances taken by the mother during pregnancy.<\/p>\n

Symptoms can start within a few days of birth and include uncontrollable trembling, sickness, poor weight gain and a continuous high-pitched cry.<\/p>\n

As part of their deal to support the last Scottish budget at the start of 2025, the Lib Dems secured a \u00a31 million commitment towards specialist support for babies born addicted to drugs.<\/p>\n

Party leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: \u201cIt is difficult to imagine a worse start to life than a newborn suffering from drug dependency.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese figures are devastating, but an important reminder of the dreadful harms caused by Scotland\u2019s drugs emergency \u2013 a crisis that has exploded on the SNP\u2019s watch.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy Nicola Sturgeon\u2019s own admission, the SNP took their \u2018eye off the ball\u2019 and after the cuts she unleashed, services have been struggling to cope.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cScottish 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Drugs and alcohol policy minister Maree Todd said: \u201cNo newborn baby should be born dependent on substances and mothers should be able to get the help they need, free from judgment and stigma.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want every person experiencing harm from alcohol or drug use to be able to access the support they need.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have provided record levels of funding for drugs and alcohol programmes, and are widening access to treatment, residential rehabilitation and life-saving naloxone.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to do more to save and improve lives and will continue to work hard to improve services.\u201d<\/p>\n

STV News is now on WhatsApp<\/p>\n

Get all the latest news from around the country<\/p>\n

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Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country<\/p>\n

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