Nearly all of a Holyrood committee has not agreed to suggest the overall rules of the Proper to Habit Restoration (Scotland) Invoice.
The Well being, Social Care and Sport Committee has issues with the proposal and mentioned it would 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 assist companies for these experiencing hurt from drug or alcohol misuse was revealed to have a excessive degree of dissatisfaction within the stage one scrutiny.
Nevertheless, the report additionally highlighted widespread stakeholder issues that the invoice’s focus is simply too slim and will additionally put additional strain on over-stretched assets.
A proposed three-week statutory deadline within the invoice raised issues that it may compromise remedy high quality, restrict selection, improve relapse danger, and will result in an increase in litigation in instances the place well being companies are unable to fulfill the authorized rights on time.
The prices of implementation set out within the monetary memorandum had been additionally mentioned to be a “significant underestimate”.
Picture:MSP Clare Haughey. Pic: Scottish parliament
And may the invoice proceed to stage two, the committee has known as on Mr Ross to think about additional methods of guaranteeing that it really works in tandem, “rather than in conflict”, with the prevailing coverage and authorized framework governing the rights of individuals affected by alcohol or drug misuse.
Ms Haughey mentioned: “Our report highlights our severe issues with the invoice in its present kind and it’s due to these issues {that a} majority of our committee is unable to suggest to parliament that the invoice ought to 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, information 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 degree recorded since earlier than the pandemic. Nevertheless, Scotland continues to have the best charge of alcohol particular deaths of any nation within the UK.
NRS information additionally lately confirmed there have been a complete of 1,017 deaths as a consequence of drug misuse in 2024 – a lower of 155 (13%) on the earlier 12 months.
Regardless of the drop, Scotland stays the medication demise 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.
Picture:MSP Douglas Ross. Pic: PA
Mr Ross mentioned: “Scotland is the medication demise capital of Europe, so it’s clear the established order is failing and that we require a brand new method to deal with this nationwide emergency.
“The committee’s issues are over the implementation of the invoice, fairly than its underlying rules.
“These issues might be addressed in the course of the parliamentary course of, so I’d urge MSPs to vote for the invoice at stage one, fairly than block it and condemn extra households to the heartache of dropping a liked one to medication.
“Yes, there will be additional costs to providing residential rehab on the scale required – but if we are serious about tackling the appalling number of drug fatalities in Scotland, we have to provide this funding and make tackling addiction the priority it should be.”
