CC Live news: Influx of cocaine increases pregnancies in Aberdeenshire

The arrival of crack cocaine in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, last year has resulted in an increase in the number of pregnancies New Assetamong substance misusing women.

The Children 1st Fraserburgh Families project, which was set up in 2003 to improve the life circumstances of children brought up in households affected by substance misuse, has received one referral per month from midwives since May relating to woman who have fallen pregnant while using crack cocaine.

Project service manager Elaine Chalmers told Community Care Live Scotland delegates that the rise was a result of crack cocaine being associated with increased risk-taking and sexual activity.

She said that the project had worked with these women to get them off crack, but many still used other drugs. All their babies born so far have been addicted to opiates and spent between three and seven weeks in hospital after birth.

Chalmers said the project had not needed to resort to statutory interventions in their work with families prior to the influx of crack cocaine into the area, as many parents on heroin were able to parent well enough.

Seven children involved in the project have now ended up being accommodated.

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