Douglas Ross has urged MSPs to put party politics aside and back the Right to Recovery Bill at stage one.
MSPs will today (Thursday) debate the bill, which was drawn up alongside people with lived experience and experts in the field of addiction and is viewed as a “game-changer” in tackling drug and alcohol deaths.
It would enshrine in law the right of everyone to receive the treatment they need, including residential rehabilitation, to fight their addiction.
Mr Ross highlighted that for seven straight years, Scotland has been the drug-deaths capital of Europe and that grieving families across Scotland know the current system isn’t working.
He said MSPs must not “close off this opportunity for meaningful change” and urged even those with reservations to allow the bill to pass at stage one, because their concerns could be addressed further down the legislative process.
Scottish Conservative MSP Douglas Ross said: “I am calling on all MSPs to put party politics aside, do what is right, and allow the Right to Recovery Bill to move forward at its first stage.
“For seven straight years, Scotland has been the drugs-death capital of Europe. 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.
“The optics of MSPs voting to close down any further debate on an issue as important as this would be awful.
“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.”