“Every child deserves a healthy start in life” – Tameside man wants new law to criminalise substance use during pregnancy

Callum Hesketh was born 2.5 months premature at Tameside Hospital, after being exposed to heroin and crystal meth in the womb.

As a baby Callum suffered severe health complications including a stroke, cardiac arrest and developmental delays. He spent 4 months fighting for his life in intensive care at Tameside General Hospital before being placed into foster care.

Sadly, Callum’s case is not unique, with thousands of babies born each year with neonatal abstinence syndrome, a condition that causes withdrawal symptoms like seizures, breathing problems and difficulty feeding.

Callum wants to ensure no other child must endure the same suffering: “I was born into withdrawal and had to fight for my life before I even had a chance to live it. This law isn’t about punishment – it’s about prevention. We need to break the cycle of addiction, protect innocent babies, and give mothers the support they need to make better choices.”

Callum is proposing a new law – Callum’s Law – in a bid to protect unborn and new born children from the harmful effects of substance use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Callum now

The law aims to make it a criminal offence for pregnant women to consume substances known to harm foetal and infant development however, it will also recognise that addiction is a medical condition and will emphasise treatment and rehabilitation over punishment.

The proposed legislation would introduce legal consequences for substance use during pregnancy and breastfeeding – including fines, mandatory addiction treatment and in severe cases, custodial sentences for repeat offences or cases resulting in serious harm to the child.

Callum said: “This law is not about punishing mothers – it’s about accountability and support. We need to stop treating prenatal substance abuse as just a personal choice and recognise the irreversible harm it causes. Every child deserves a healthy start in life.”

The campaign needs 10,000 signatures before the government responds to Callum’s Law which will run until October 2025. Make substance use during pregnancy and breastfeeding a specific offence - Petitions