Many individuals across the UK abuse drugs frequently, which poses significant risks to not only the affected person but also to their loved ones and communities. People will often tar all drug addicts with the same brush and assume that they are bad individuals who will steal or be aggressive and violent; this is not always the case. The majority of addicts are simply people who need support to overcome their illness. However, what does not help are those who treat them differently and act hostile towards them just because they have fallen on hard times.

One reason many people look down on an addict is if this individual uses drugs while pregnant. This can seem an utterly selfish and horrible thing to do, but addiction is an illness that consumes the person to the point where he or she has no control over their actions. This is why, in some cases, an addict will abuse drugs while pregnant. The NHS has recently released figures that highlight the numbers of infants being born with an addiction around the UK.

Detrimental Risks

These figures show that over sixty babies were born with a drug addiction in Birmingham and the surrounding area in 2015. This means that one baby was born every six days suffering from withdrawal symptoms because their mother abused drugs while pregnant, resulting in this harm to the baby. The total number of babies in the area that were affected by their mother’s drug addiction increased to a total of 63 between 2015 and 2016.

Shocking Total

Birmingham is an area with one of the highest rates of babies born suffering from addiction in England. There are more than 1,000 babies born every year in England addicted to drugs; since 2011/2012, there have been 6,000 babies affected by the substance abuse of their mother. In 2015/2016, there was a total of 1,119 babies born with a drug addiction; however, this was the lowest number recorded in the last ten years.

Unpleasant and Distressing Experience

When these babies are born, doctors can quickly identify if the infant is suffering from neonatal withdrawal symptoms – this basically means that they are going cold turkey. These withdrawal symptoms can range from uncontrollable tremors, vomiting and diarrhoea, blotchy skin and fever, which makes for a very unpleasant and distressing experience for all involved. Some of the drugs that these babies end up being addicted to include methadone, heroin and crack cocaine; in extreme cases, the newborn may be given opiates to help them come off drugs such as heroin.

Tranquil Atmosphere in Our Clinic

If you or someone you love is pregnant and addicted to drugs, contact us here at Recovery Lighthouse. We specialise in helping individuals overcome their drug addiction so that they can move on to lead a healthy and happy life afterwards. The process of overcoming addiction while pregnant can be very complicated and needs to be dealt with appropriately. Professional assistance is almost always advised in this situation.

Our clinic is designed to be comfortable and inviting as well as spacious, and it has a tranquil atmosphere to relax our guests. Our staff are dedicated, motivated and welcoming, which should encourage guests to feel at home during treatment. Do not hesitate to give us a call or an email today if you need further information; we are always more than happy to assist you.

Source: The shameful number of drug-addicted babies born in Birmingham this year (Birmingham Mail)