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Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill

Douglas Ross MSP has introduced this Member’s Bill. It will establish a right in law to treatment for addiction for anyone in Scotland who is addicted to either alcohol, or drugs or both.

This is a Member's bill

The Bill was introduced on 14 May 2024 and is at Stage 1

Introduced: the Bill and its documents

Overview

Douglas Ross MSP has introduced this Member’s Bill.

It will allow people who have been diagnosed by a health professional as being addicted to either alcohol, or drugs, or both to be provided with:

  • a treatment determination
  • the treatment that is appropriate for them

The treatment must be made available to them within three weeks of the treatment determination being made.

If the health professional thinks that no treatment is appropriate, or that the treatment which the person wants is not appropriate, then the health professional must tell the person in writing why they think this.

If the person does not agree with the health professional’s decision, they can get a second opinion from a different health professional.

The Scottish Government must report on its progress towards providing treatment to people addicted to either alcohol, or drugs, or both, every year. The report should be given to Parliament and published by the Government.

The report needs to include certain statistical information for each health board area.

The Scottish Government must prepare a code of practice to help the bodies which help implement the Bill know what they need to do. These are bodies like health boards and local authorities.

Why the Bill was created

Douglas Ross MSP believes that any person who has been diagnosed as being addicted to either alcohol, or drugs, or both, should have the legal right to access treatment to help them to recover from that addiction.

In 2022, 1,051 people died due to drug misuse, and there were 1,276 alcohol-related deaths in the same year. Mr Ross believes that these figures are too high and show that that there is a problem in Scotland with addiction to drugs and alcohol. Mr Ross also believes that this problem is made worse by the length of waiting times for some types of treatment, including residential rehabilitation.

Mr Ross believes that a rights-based system should be created. This would give individuals the right to treatment without delay information and involvement in their treatment. Mr Ross also believes this would lead to progress in tackling addiction to alcohol, or drugs, or both.

Accompanying Documents

Explanatory Notes (138KB, pdf) posted 14 May 2024

Policy Memorandum (263KB, pdf) posted 14 May 2024

Financial Memorandum (335KB, pdf) posted 14 May 2024

Delegated Powers Memorandum (139KB, pdf) posted 14 May 2024

Statements on legislative competence (109KB, pdf) posted 14 May 2024

Accompanying Documents (print versions)

Explanatory Notes (224KB, pdf) posted 14 May 2024

Policy Memorandum (332KB, pdf) posted 14 May 2024

Financial Memorandum (391KB, pdf) posted 14 May 2024

Delegated Powers Memorandum (219KB, pdf) posted 14 May 2024

Statements on legislative competence (160KB, pdf) posted 14 May 2024

Additional member in charge

Annie Wells MSP is the additional member in charge for the Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill.

Financial Resolution

The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is required for this Bill.

The Bill was introduced on 14 May 2024

Stage 1: general principles

At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.

Lead committee examines the Bill

The lead committee for this Bill is the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee.

Correspondence: lead committee

Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill Equality Impact Assessment

Letter from Douglas Ross MSP to the HSCS Convener concerning the Equality Impact Assessment for the Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill, 25 September 2024

Stage 1 report by the lead committee

The lead committee will publish its report before the debate on the general principles of the Bill.