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Tuesday, July 8, 2025

New Treatment Standards for Drug Users

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New standards for treatment for drug users will ensure everyone has access to the support which works best for them.

The 10 new standards, published today by the Drug Deaths Taskforce, will reinforce a rights-based approach for people who use drugs and the treatment they should expect, regardless of where they live.

Funding from the additional ยฃ50 million for drugs services announced by the First Minister in January will ensure that all Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) are supported by the Scottish Government to embed the standards by April 2022.

They make clear that people must be able to start receiving support on the day that they ask for it and emphasise the importance of allowing people to make informed choices about the type of medication and help available to them.

These 10 standards apply to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) which is the term used to refer to the use of medication, such as opioids, together with any psychological and social support, in the treatment and care of people who experience problems with drug use.

Minister for Drug Policy Angela Constance (pictured) said:

โ€œI want to thank the Drug Deaths Taskforce for their work on developing these standards and all those who gave their views following the interim report.

โ€œWe now have a set of standards which are safe, accessible and person-centred.

โ€œThese will help ensure consistency of treatment across the country.

โ€œMaking help available and giving people an informed choice is an essential part of respecting a personโ€™s rights and dignity.

โ€œIt is also an approach which is more likely to be effective and provide people with the support and treatment they need.

โ€œWe have said a national mission is needed to tackle the drug deaths emergency and that is why we allocated an additional ยฃ250 million over the next five years to improve and increase services for people affected by drug addiction.

โ€œThese MAT standards will mean everyone with problematic drug use can access the right support for them regardless of their situation or location.โ€

Chair of the Drug Deaths Taskforce Professor Catriona Matheson said:

โ€œThe publication of the MAT Standards and the start of their implementation represents a major achievement for the Taskforce and the beginning of a new phase of our work.

โ€œThe Standards constitute the most significant intervention in the strategy to reduce the unacceptable level of drug related deaths.

โ€œThe Standards will form a critical element of the longer term, sustainable actions that will save lives, complimenting the emergency actions taken to date.

โ€œThe evidence is clear that using street drugs and not being in treatment is dangerous and life-threatening.

โ€œThe Taskforce wants more people at risk to be in treatment programmes.

โ€œI would like to thank everyone who contributed to the rapid development of the Standards and who are now involved in their roll-out and adoption. Commitment like this will help save lives.โ€

Scottish Drugs Forum CEO David Liddell said:

โ€œScotlandโ€™s MAT Standards are the most significant landmark in improving Scotlandโ€™s response to problem drug use in over a decade.

โ€œImplementing the standards will be the most significant development in addressing the on-going public health emergency of drug-related deaths.

โ€œPeople who enter treatment are amongst the most vulnerable people in our society and often find engaging with services difficult.

โ€œServices need to be more attractive, more approachable and more accessible; and reach out to people who have been in treatment but no longer are. 

โ€œThese standards are the basis for making services truly person-centred.

โ€œImplementing them will help services develop empowering relationships with people in treatment.

โ€œFull implementation of the standards will save lives, reduce harm and transform peopleโ€™s quality of life.โ€

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