Alcohol and drugs strategic plan: equality impact assessment summary

Executive summary

This Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) supports the development of the Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan (the Plan). The Plan responds to Scotland’s high levels of alcohol‑ and drug‑related harms and deaths, and replaces earlier national strategies. It is informed by extensive engagement with people with lived and living experience, clinicians, Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs), third sector organisations, and wider partners. The EqIA assessed potential impacts across all protected characteristics and the Public Sector Equality Duty. Evidence was drawn from national data, national and international literature reviews, and feedback from engagement events on the Plan itself.

The assessment found predominantly positive or neutral impacts across all groups, with no negative impacts identified. The Plan’s strong human rights based, trauma informed approach is expected to reduce stigma and improve dignity, accessibility and inclusion for groups disproportionately affected by substance use.

Monitoring of equality impacts will be embedded in programme governance, with improved data collection, lived experience feedback, and regular review of outcomes. Further detailed equality impact assessment will be required during implementation, particularly at local level.

Overall, the EqIA concludes that the Strategy is likely to advance equality and human rights, with implementation offering further opportunities to strengthen inclusion and reduce inequalities.