1,000 babies born last year hooked on strong opioids

MORE than 1,000 babies born in 2018 had drug withdrawal symptoms caused by addict mums, NHS England figures reveal.

Many cases were linked to illicit opioids such as heroin.

But more disturbingly others were down to mothers becoming hooked on prescription opioids like codeine during pregnancy.

Now GPs are being warned to be more careful about painkillers they dish out to expectant mums.

Last year 1,052 babies needed “cold turkey” treatment for drugs taken in via the umbilical cord.

This can mean being given the drug after birth and slowly weaned off it.

Short-term symptoms in addict babies include highpitched continuous crying, fits, fever, vomiting, dehydration, diarrhoea and sweating. Long-term problems include slow development, visual impairment and learning difficulties.

The total number of addict babies in the past seven years stands at 8,530.

Prof Helen Mactier, president of the British Association of Perinatal Medicine, said: “These figures are very worrying. Some mothers are given codeine for pain relief and we know some of their children have long-term developmental problems.

“Doctors are not always careful in what they are prescribing.”

The figures emerge as the UK faces a growing epidemic of opioid use, following the US where there has been a fivefold increase in babies born addicted.

A Public Health England review has found nearly 12million people are on drugs for pain, depression or insomnia, which they find difficult

to give up.