Charter of rights for users launched as ‘key part’ of mission on drugs

The Scottish Government has launched a charter of rights for drug users.

The document is designed to lay out the rights available to “people impacted by substance use” and the support they can expect to deal with addiction.

Drawing from current laws already on the books, the charter highlights seven rights for drug users, including the “right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health”.

The charter has drawn support from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, who said there needs to be “new approaches” taken to addiction.

Developed by a network of groups aimed at embedding human rights into drug and alcohol policy known as the National Collaborative, the document was launched at an event in Glasgow on Wednesday.

Speaking at the launch, the First Minister said: “My condolences go to all those who have lost a loved one.

“We want every person experiencing harm from alcohol or drug use to be able access the support they need, and through our £250 million national mission on drugs we’re taking a wide range of actions.

“This charter is a key part of that mission and draws on the experience of communities and families affected by substance use.

“It significantly strengthens our public health and human rights-based approach to substance use-related harms and, over time, it will contribute to significantly improving and saving lives.

“I welcome the support of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights which recognises the charter as the first of its kind in the world.

“We will continue work with the National Collaborative, which developed the charter, and key stakeholders towards its implementation.”

National Collaborative chairman Professor Alan Miller said: “The charter places people and their human dignity, not punishment and stigma, at the centre. It has been developed by people with life experience of what hasn’t worked and what will work. Let’s all now make these rights real.”