Put politics aside and back Right to Recovery Bill, says Ross

The MSP behind a Bill aimed at helping people get off drugs has urged MSPs to put politics aside and back it.

The Right to Recovery (Scotland) Bill will go before MSPs on Thursday in the hopes of passing its first parliamentary hurdle, but it is understood the legislation is not expected to pass at stage one.

The Bill would enshrine in law the right for someone to be given the treatment they want for their addiction, but it was not backed by Holyrood’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee in a recent report who said it was not the right “vehicle” to tackle the country’s drug deaths issue.

But former Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross – who proposed the Bill – has urged MSPs to “put party politics aside, do what is right” and back it at stage one.

“For seven straight years, Scotland has been the drugs death capital of Europe,” he said.

“Every grieving family knows that the current system is failing vulnerable 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.

“It was drafted by people with lived experience of addiction and experts in the field, and enjoys widespread support.

“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.”

Mr Ross urged fellow MSPs to allow the Bill to progress, and allow for changes to be made at subsequent stages to areas where they have reservations.

“The optics of MSPs voting to close down any further debate on an issue as important as this would be awful,” he said.

“To those with reservations about the practicalities of the Bill, I say: These can be considered and addressed further down the legislative process.

“But consigning this Bill to the dustbin at stage one would be the height of complacency. It would send the signal that MSPs think they have done enough to tackle rising drug and alcohol deaths.”