The charity promoting a “Right to Recovery Bill” in Scotland claim that critics have misunderstood what the proposals stand for.
The FAVOR UK group was dismayed that other drug groups made a decision to publicly criticise the draft of the bill, which seeks to secure legal rights to drug treatment, during a consultation process.
Supporters of the bill have expressed anger on social media at the move by the Transform and Release policy campaign groups, in conjunction with Cranstoun.
In a statement, FAVOR stresses that they believe the consultation period may lead to adaptations that will strengthen the proposals.
The statement says: “FAVOR UK welcomes all engagement with the Bill. The consultation process serves to improve the Bill and also clarifies any misconceptions about what it actually brings.
“To suggest that this bill supports or advocates for any one path over another not only shows a lack of understanding of what the bill is set up to do, it would also go against the ethos of our charity.
“Favor UK sought legal counsel from several sources across the UK before endeavouring to secure and make people’s rights real and actionable.
“We would never enter into any form of advocacy or campaigning that could harm people’s already precarious chances of accessing treatment.”
The statement also stresses that the key concern in the middle of the legislation, which is being supported at Holyrood by the Scottish Tories, is human rights.
The proposals would allow people in addiction to challenge any decisions to deny them treatment. Many have complained in the past that they have been dismissed without justification by agencies including medics.
FAVOR adds: “The suggestion that raising individual legal challenges to poor or irrational decision making would divert money from other treatment options misses the point completely on having rights.
“In no other sector do we hear this narrative.
“If rights based legislation is to be opposed on the basis that it ‘diverts’ money to the courts, should we also oppose the Human Rights Act?”
FAVOR said it is currently advocating for several clients to get access to methadone treatment and other harm reduction measures in Scotland.
