MSPs are being urged to place celebration politics apart and again a invoice that might give individuals identified with a drug or alcohol habit a authorized proper to remedy.
The Proper to Dependancy Restoration (Scotland) Invoice will go earlier than MSPs on Thursday, however it’s understood the laws isn’t anticipated to go at stage one.
The invoice, launched by former Scottish Tory chief Douglas Ross, seeks to present these identified with drug or alcohol habit a statutory proper to obtain remedy from a related skilled.
Nevertheless, it has not been backed by Holyrood’s Well being, Social Care and Sport Committee amid issues it isn’t the proper “vehicle” to successfully help these struggling hurt from habit.
Forward of the controversy, Mr Ross urged these with reservations to assist the invoice go its first parliamentary hurdle with an purpose to deal with any issues additional down the legislative course of.
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MSP Douglas Ross. Pic: PA
He mentioned: “I am calling on all MSPs to put party politics aside, do what is right, and allow the right to recovery bill to move forward at its first stage.
“For seven straight years, Scotland has been the medication dying capital of Europe. Each grieving household is aware of that the present system is failing weak Scots.
“This bill could be game-changing. It would enshrine in law the right of everyone to receive the treatment they need – a principle that I’m convinced every MSP backs.”
Nationwide Data of Scotland (NRS) knowledge not too long ago confirmed there have been a complete of 1,017 deaths resulting from drug misuse in 2024 – a lower of 155 (13%) on the earlier yr.
Regardless of the drop, Scotland stays the medication dying capital of Europe.
And whereas the UK’s first safer drug consumption room opened in Glasgow in January, a Westminster committee final month mentioned it shouldn’t be seen as a “silver bullet” to sort out the disaster.
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The Thistle, the UK’s first safer drug consumption room. Pic: PA
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The injection bay space at The Thistle. Pic: PA
Current NRS knowledge additionally confirmed there have been 1,185 alcohol particular deaths in 2024 – a lower of 92 (7%) on the earlier yr.
The determine is the bottom degree recorded since earlier than the pandemic. Nevertheless, Scotland continues to have the best fee of alcohol particular deaths of any nation within the UK.
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Residing subsequent door to the UK’s first safer drug consumption room
The Well being, Social Care and Sport Committee’s report mentioned the invoice would require “significant amendments” if it had been to achieve stage two.
A proposed three-week statutory deadline within the invoice raised issues that it may compromise remedy high quality, restrict alternative, enhance relapse threat, and will result in an increase in litigation in circumstances the place well being companies are unable to satisfy the authorized rights on time.
The prices of implementation set out within the monetary memorandum had been additionally mentioned to be a “significant underestimate”.
Mr Ross, MSP for the Highlands and Islands, mentioned his invoice had been “drafted by people with lived experience of addiction and experts in the field”.
He mentioned consigning it “to the dustbin at stage one would be the height of complacency”, arguing it might “send the signal that MSPs think they have done enough” to sort out the problem.
Mr Ross added: “This is about saving lives. If we really want to end Scotland’s heartbreaking drugs and alcohol crises, we must not close off this opportunity for meaningful change.
“The optics of MSPs voting to shut down any additional debate on a problem as vital as this might be terrible.
“To those with reservations about the practicalities of the bill, I say: These can be considered and addressed further down the legislative process.”
