Over a thousand babies a year are born addicted to drugs including heroin

MORE than a thousand babies a year are being born addicted to drugs, official figures reveal

The children have been exposed in the womb normally to opioids such as heroin but also to GP prescribed anti-depressants and sleeping pills.

GettyOver than a thousand babies were born addicted to drugs in 2018/19[/caption]

The NHS data shows a total of 1,052 babies were hooked at birth across England in 2018/19.

The Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome stats came via freedom of information to UK Addiction Treatment Group.

The rehab organisation’s Nuno Albuquerque said: “This research proves pregnant female drug users are being let down by the system.

“Just because a woman falls pregnant does not mean she can instantly stop.”