Up to 90 infants born with symptoms of drug withdrawal each year in South Australian hospitals

As many as 90 babies are born showing signs of illicit drug withdrawal in SA hospitals each year, new data shows.

• SA drugs crisis: Cheapest ice, meth, ecstasy in Australia
• Meth in SA: Ice top drug trafficked in the state
• Adelaide drug addicts reveal turmoil of ice usage

As many as 90 babies are born showing signs of illicit drug withdrawal in South Australian hospitals each year, new data shows.

Reports of drug-affected newborns have been rising in recent years, peaking at 90 in 2016-17.

Nursing and midwifery staff in public and private hospitals have raised the alarm about no fewer than 59 infants in each of the past nine years.

It is not known which drugs are involved, but SA Health says they include prescription and non-prescription opiates.

Babies showing drug dependence are found to be more irritable, cry more often and have difficulty sleeping or feeding.

They can also have a fever and weigh less than other newborns.

Treatment can range from comforting measures like swaddling, skin contact and frequent feeds to administering medicines, such as morphine and other sedatives.

The long-term effects of drug use in pregnancy are not as well studied as alcohol.

All nurses and midwives working in post and neonatal nurseries receive training on Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, or drug withdrawal, and health workers are required to report cases to the Child Abuse Report Line.

Child Protection Department chief executive Cathy Taylor said major birthing hospitals had direct access “so reporting, assessment and, where necessary, removal (of the infant) can occur quickly”.

“Where (the department) is aware of an impending birth where a baby is at risk of being drug affected we work with the hospital and other services to develop a plan of managing the baby and mother post birth,” she said.

She cited other programs working with parents “pre and post birth to promote harm minimisation and reduce risk”.

No fewer than 59 infants have been born drug-affected in each of the past nine years. Picture: istock

Notifications can now be made about unborn children from 20 weeks’ gestation.

Australian Anti-Ice Campaign spokesman and registered nurse Michael Alder said the responsibility of pregnancy “doesn’t always provide mums with enough motivation to get off the drug” and warned there were not enough spaces available in publicly-funded rehabilitation programs.

Last financial year 78 newborns were identified as showing signs of drug withdrawal across 14 hospitals.

Responding to the latest figures, which cover four months of the new Liberal Government’s term, Child Protection Minister Rachel Sanderson said it was “incredibly sad and concerning” that infants were born with drug dependence.

“Since coming into Government we have committed to redesigning the state’s child abuse and neglect intervention and prevention system and have already begun implementing new pilot programs to better support vulnerable families before children are exposed to adversity,” she said.

The Advertiser has previously revealed that one in five drug tests imposed on parents by child protection authorities returns a positive result, most commonly cannabis and methamphetamines.

Child protection advocate Belinda Valentine said a report of a pregnant women using drugs was a “red flag that some help is needed here”.

“They’re in a vulnerable time. There’s an opportunity to help before a child is born,” she said. “They may not intend to be harming the child but don’t know how to, or don’t have the strength to, get off (the drug).”

Figures for last financial year — which covered four months of the new Liberal Government’s term — show 78 newborns were identified as showing signs of drug withdrawal across 14 hospitals.

SA Health data on infants born showing signs of drug withdrawal in SA hospitals:

2009-10 - 60

2010-11 - 78

2011-12 - 61

2012-13 - 59

2013-14 - 61

2014-15 - 67

2015-16 - 73

2016-17 - 90

2017-18 - 78

Follow @Lauren__Dailey