Addiction Recovery Bill not backed by majority of committee

A majority of a Scottish Parliament Committee has not agreed to recommend the general principles of the Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill.

The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee has stated concerns with the Bill, which was proposed by Douglas Ross, and requested amendments if it is to reach Stage two.

The convener said a majority of the committee did not believe the Bill “is the correct vehicle” to support those suffering from addiction.

Clare Haughey, Ccnvener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, said: “Our committee recognises the long standing and serious harms that drug and alcohol misuse can have on individuals and families across Scotland.

“The number of people suffering from drug and/or alcohol use in Scotland is still far too high and our evidence made it clear that more must be done to tackle these issues.

“However, a majority of our committee do not believe this Bill is the correct vehicle to effectively support those suffering harm from alcohol or drug use.”

Current availability and access to support services for those experiencing drug or alcohol misuse was revealed to have a high level of dissatisfaction in the scrutiny.

However, the Stage one report also said that there are concerns that the Bill’s focus is too narrow.

A proposed three-week statutory deadline in the Bill was discussed, with conclusions that it could put further pressure on over-stretched resources.

Another concern discussed by the committee was the cost of implementation set out in the Financial Memorandum, which is a significant underestimate.

Doubts were shared about whether legal rights alone can overcome cultural, capacity, and resource barriers – and concerns over proposed enforcement routes as being too costly and complex are highlighted by the committee.

Ms Haughey said: “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 2.

“We acknowledge the Bill’s aim of helping those suffering from 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 behalf of the committee, I am grateful to everyone who has provided evidence and informed our scrutiny of the general principles of this Bill.”

The Bill was introduced by Douglas Ross, MSP for Highlands and Islands, in the Scottish Parliament in May 2024.

The main aims of the Bill is to give those diagnosed with drug or alcohol addiction a statutory right to receive treatment from a relevant professional.

This month, it was reported that Scotland remains the drugs death capital of Europe for the seventh year in a row.

National Records of Scotland said the latest drug death figure was the lowest annual number since 2017, but still the highest in Europe.

Mr Ross said: “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 Right to Recovery Bill – which would enshrine in law the right of everyone to receive the treatment they need – was drafted with frontline experts in the field of addiction and those with lived experience of addiction. There was also an overwhelming majority in favour of it during the consultation stage.

“The committee’s concerns are over the implementation of the bill, rather than its underlying principles.

“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.

“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.”