Study claims tots could get withdrawal symptoms from legal pills | Daily Star

Pain relief drugs 'could lead to junior junkies'

MUMS could give birth to a junkie even if they have never taken an illegal drug, shock research claims.

mum and baby WORRYING: Drugs like morphine and methadone could have an impact on a baby's health [Getty Images/Brand X]

The study says taking pain relief during pregnancy could lead to newborns getting withdrawal symptoms.

Women who take “opiod” drugs like morphine, and methadone could be putting their tot at risk, according to the alarming findings.

Researchers found symptoms among kids born to the 28% of women given opioids. S

tephen Patrick, from Vanderbilt university in the US state of Tennessee, warned: "Not all babies exposed to opioids have drug withdrawal after birth for reasons that aren't entirely clear.


The team studied the pregnancies of more than 112,000 women.

Up until now, kids getting withdrawal symptoms was blamed on feckless mums getting high during pregnancy.

Brit doctors have previously said opoids “can be used at any stage of pregnancy for the short-term treatment of moderate to severe pain when other analgesics are not effective or not clinically indicated."

But they warned there was a lack of research on whether the pain relievers can effect unborn children.