MORE than 20 babies are born to drug addicts every year in Ayrshire.

The Times can reveal that 81 babies have been born to drug dependent mothers since 2012 in Ayrshire Maternity Unit - an average of 23 every year.

The figures were released as part of a Freedom of Information request by the Irvine Times and also revealed that six of those babies had to be treated for drug withdrawl symptoms, including Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), the most severe form of infant withdrawal caused by administering illict substances whilst pregnant.

The figures also revealed that a staggering 12,282 babies were born at AMU in the same three-and-a-half year period with 3,646 births in 2012, 3,596 in 2013, 3,564 in 2014 and 2022 so far in 2015.

Sadly, of that number 76 were stillborn with 22 stillbirths in 2012, 27 in 2013, 22 in 2014 and five so far this year.

Tragically two babies died of birth complications in the same period and the maternity unit received 40 complaints between January 2012 and June this year.

After the Irvine Times raised these findings, a spokesperson for NHS Ayrshire and Arran said the figures are based on the most serious cases of drug dependant babies.

She said: “Infants showing symptoms of neonatal abstinence syndrome may only be the more extreme cases.

“There may be other cases of children born to an alcohol or drug dependent mother which are not picked up.

“These babies are cared for in the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Ayrshire Maternity Hospital and are not transferred to any other hospital.” Dr Philippa Whitford MP for Central Ayrshire and Health spokesman for the SNP at Westminster, said: “Drug addiction can present many challenges and this is no greater than when dealing with expectant mothers who are drug dependant. It is vital the mothers feel supported or they may stop engaging with antenatal services, which would lead to greater danger for both child and mother. Obviously, mothers in this position need additional expertise from their midwife and obstetrician, and care throughout their pregnancy to try and get the best outcome for the child.”