Drug deaths are not inevitable. Rights are not optional. 

This year, the #StopTheDeaths initiative is rooted in making rights a reality. We are calling on everyone – policymakers, service providers, advocates, and communities – to stand with people who are affected by substance use and support them in realising their rights. 

At the heart of this campaign is a simple truth, people who use drugs have rights.  The right to life, health, safety and dignity. In Scotland, these rights are enshrined in the Charter of Rights for People Affected by Substance Use, developed through a National Collaborative and shaped by people with lived and living experience. The Charter is not just a document, it’s a declaration of humanity, a framework for justice, and a call to action. 

Scotland continues to face a public health crisis, with drug-related deaths disproportionately impacting the most marginalised communities. Countries across Europe are also reporting their highest-ever rates of drug-related deaths. This shared crisis demands urgent, compassionate, and evidence-based responses that centre the voices and rights of people who use drugs. 

By supporting people who use drugs to claim their rights and lead the call for change, we can build better policies, stronger services, and dismantle stigma.  

What You Can Do 

• Read and share the Charter of Rights. Make it part of your practice, your advocacy and your conversations. 

• Join the movement. Amplify lived and living experience and commit to rights-based change. 

• Challenge injustice. Whether in policy, media, or service delivery, stand up for the rights of people who use drugs. 

Together, We Can Realise Rights 

This initiative is not just about preventing deaths; it’s about affirming life. It’s about recognising that people who use drugs are not problems to be solved, but people with rights to be respected. Drug deaths are not inevitable. Rights are not optional.