The majority of a Holyrood 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 concerns with the proposal and said it will require “significant amendments” if it is to reach stage two.
The bill, introduced by Scottish Tory MSP Douglas Ross, seeks to give those diagnosed with drug or alcohol addiction a statutory right to receive treatment from a relevant professional.
MSP Clare Haughey, convener of the committee, said 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”.
Current availability and access to support services for those experiencing harm from drug or alcohol misuse was revealed to have a high level of dissatisfaction in the stage one scrutiny.
However, the report also highlighted widespread stakeholder concerns that the bill’s focus is too narrow and could also put further pressure on over-stretched resources.
A proposed three-week statutory deadline in the bill raised concerns that it could compromise treatment quality, limit choice, increase relapse risk, and could lead to a rise in litigation in cases where health services are unable to meet the legal rights on time.
The costs of implementation set out in the financial memorandum were also said to be a “significant underestimate”.
MSP Clare Haughey. Pic: Scottish parliament
And should the bill proceed to stage two, the committee has called on Mr Ross to consider further ways of ensuring that it works in tandem, “rather than in conflict”, with the existing policy and legal framework governing the rights of people suffering from alcohol or drug misuse.
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 two.
“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.”
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On Tuesday, data from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) showed there were 1,185 alcohol specific deaths in 2024 – a decrease of 92 (7%) on the previous year.
The figure is the lowest level recorded since before the pandemic. However, Scotland continues to have the highest rate of alcohol specific deaths of any country in the UK.
NRS data also recently showed there were a total of 1,017 deaths due to drug misuse in 2024 – a decrease of 155 (13%) on the previous year.
Despite the drop, Scotland remains the drugs death capital of Europe.
And while the UK’s first safer drug consumption room opened in Glasgow in January, a Westminster committee said last week it should not be seen as a “silver bullet” to tackle the crisis.
MSP Douglas Ross. Pic: PA
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 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.”
