Scotland’s Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) have achieved significant milestones in implementing medication assisted treatment standards. 91% of core services are now fully operational according to a new Public Health Scotland benchmarking report published on 17 June 2025.

The comprehensive PHS benchmarking report reveals how MAT standards have transformed substance use services across all 29 ADP areas. The report demonstrates substantial improvements in accessibility and treatment choice for individuals experiencing problematic drug use.

Dramatic Improvements in Treatment Standards

The Public Health Scotland benchmarking report documents remarkable progress since the Scottish Government’s Drug Deaths Taskforce introduced the ten evidence-based medication assisted treatment standards in May 2021. These standards combine prescription medications with psychological and social support. They create a comprehensive treatment framework.

For MAT standards 1-5, which focus on immediate access and treatment initiation, 91% of areas have achieved full implementation. This represents a substantial increase from just 17% in 2021/22. The trajectory shows steady progress, rising from 66% in 2022/23 and 90% in 2023/24.

The more challenging standards 6-10 address trauma-informed care and specialised services. These have shown equally impressive results. Seventy-five percent of areas now meet these advanced MAT standards. An additional 16% have achieved provisional green status.

Key Performance Highlights

Treatment accessibility has achieved 100% implementation across Scotland through Standard 2. This remarkable achievement ensures individuals can access medication assisted treatment without unnecessary barriers.

Standard 4 focuses on treatment choice and flexibility. It has similarly reached 100% implementation. This empowers service users to select treatments that best meet their individual needs.

The most dramatic improvement has been seen in Standard 8. This standard addresses trauma-informed approaches. It jumped from 14% full implementation in 2023 to 97% in 2025.

Expert Commentary on Progress

John Mooney, Consultant in Public Health at PHS, praised the collaborative approach that has driven these improvements. He highlighted how clinical colleagues, third sector partners, and crucially, people with lived experience have worked together to ensure medication assisted treatment standards are underpinned by human rights principles.

“This collaborative approach has been essential to embedding these principles in the ongoing sustainability of service improvements,” Mooney noted, emphasising the importance of maintaining these standards as services evolve.

Future Challenges and Adaptations

Looking ahead, Public Health Scotland will support ADPs as they extend MAT standards implementation to justice sector and acute care settings. The organisation recognises the need to adapt these standards to address the rapidly evolving drug use landscape, where synthetic opioids are increasingly supplementing or replacing traditional substances.

The report acknowledges that in this complex field, where continuous improvement is the goal, standards are not always directly comparable year-on-year. This reflects the dynamic nature of substance use services and the ongoing commitment to evidence-based practice.

Supporting Scotland’s Most Vulnerable

The implementation of these medication assisted treatment standards represents more than statistical improvements. It demonstrates Scotland’s commitment to providing comprehensive, accessible treatment for some of society’s most vulnerable individuals.

The progress documented in this Public Health Scotland benchmarking report suggests that Scotland’s approach to substance use treatment is creating meaningful change. Services are becoming more responsive to individual needs whilst maintaining the highest clinical standards.

This systematic approach to improving MAT standards across Scotland demonstrates how evidence-based frameworks can drive meaningful change in healthcare delivery. This is particularly important in challenging areas like substance use treatment.

Source: dbrecoveryresoures