Petition · Home Office

Law to allow families to request compulsory assessment when addiction risks life

Open for signatures 204 signatures

What the petition asks

The Government should pass a Substance Abuse and Addiction Act. It should let families, with medical evidence and court oversight, request compulsory assessment when severe addiction risks life, ensure quicker treatment, better integrated services, more safeguards, and lawful early intervention.
Our country has high drug-related deaths. We view addiction as a chronic brain disorder that impairs judgement, impulse control, and risk awareness. Families often can't act early enough. Several other countries allow court-supervised early intervention. A UK Act would prioritise treatment, enable better safeguarding, and give families more legal tools to prevent avoidable deaths. We think the UK is behind other countries and we need laws changed to help families.

Timeline

7 Apr 2026 Petition opened for signatures

Key facts

Signatures 204
Status Open for signatures
Department Home Office
Opened 7 Apr 2026

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 26 Jul 2026.