Nearly all of a Holyrood committee has not agreed to advocate the final rules of the Proper to Dependancy Restoration (Scotland) Invoice.
The Well being, Social Care and Sport Committee has considerations with the proposal and mentioned it’s going to require “significant amendments” whether it is to achieve stage two.
The invoice, launched by Scottish Tory MSP Douglas Ross, seeks to provide these identified with drug or alcohol dependancy a statutory proper to obtain remedy from a related skilled.
MSP Clare Haughey, convener of the committee, mentioned a majority of the committee “do not believe this bill is the correct vehicle to effectively support those suffering harm from alcohol or drug use”.
Present availability and entry to help providers for these experiencing hurt from drug or alcohol misuse was revealed to have a excessive stage of dissatisfaction within the stage one scrutiny.
Nevertheless, the report additionally highlighted widespread stakeholder considerations that the invoice’s focus is just too slender and will additionally put additional strain on over-stretched assets.
A proposed three-week statutory deadline within the invoice raised considerations that it might compromise remedy high quality, restrict alternative, improve relapse danger, and will result in an increase in litigation in instances the place well being providers are unable to fulfill the authorized rights on time.
The prices of implementation set out within the monetary memorandum have been additionally mentioned to be a “significant underestimate”.
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MSP Clare Haughey. Pic: Scottish parliament
And will the invoice proceed to stage two, the committee has referred to as on Mr Ross to contemplate additional methods of guaranteeing that it really works in tandem, “rather than in conflict”, with the present coverage and authorized framework governing the rights of individuals affected by alcohol or drug misuse.
Ms Haughey mentioned: “Our report highlights our serious concerns with the bill in its current form and it is because of those concerns that a majority of our committee is unable to recommend to parliament that the bill should proceed to stage two.
“We acknowledge the invoice’s intention of serving to these affected by drug and alcohol misuse.
“However, our evidence has highlighted that the bill in its current form could negatively impact individuals who are suffering and put even greater strain on services that are already deeply stretched.”
On Tuesday, knowledge from the Nationwide Information of Scotland (NRS) confirmed there have been 1,185 alcohol particular deaths in 2024 – a lower of 92 (7%) on the earlier 12 months.
The determine is the bottom stage recorded since earlier than the pandemic. Nevertheless, Scotland continues to have the best price of alcohol particular deaths of any nation within the UK.
NRS knowledge additionally lately confirmed there have been a complete of 1,017 deaths because of drug misuse in 2024 – a lower of 155 (13%) on the earlier 12 months.
Regardless of the drop, Scotland stays the medicine dying capital of Europe.
And whereas the UK’s first safer drug consumption room opened in Glasgow in January, a Westminster committee mentioned final week it shouldn’t be seen as a “silver bullet” to deal with the disaster.
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MSP Douglas Ross. Pic: PA
Mr Ross mentioned: “Scotland is the drugs death capital of Europe, so it’s clear the status quo is failing and that we require a new approach to tackle this national emergency.
“The committee’s considerations are over the implementation of the invoice, reasonably than its underlying rules.
“These concerns can be addressed during the parliamentary process, so I would urge MSPs to vote for the bill at stage one, rather than block it and condemn more families to the heartache of losing a loved one to drugs.
“Sure, there can be extra prices to offering residential rehab on the dimensions required – but when we’re severe about tackling the appalling variety of drug fatalities in Scotland, we now have to offer this funding and make tackling dependancy the precedence it needs to be.”
