The charter, the first of its kind in the world, will help ensure people know their rights and the support they can expect to receive, and that those who use drugs and alcohol, and their families, are treated with dignity.

It contains key human rights – mostly drawn from national and international law - belonging to people affected by substance use, most importantly the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, along with the right to an adequate standard of living and the right to a healthy environment.

Speaking at the launch, First Minister John Swinney said: “My condolences go to all those who have lost a loved one. We want every person experiencing harm from alcohol or drug use to be able access the support they need and through our £250 million National Mission on drugs we’re taking a wide range of actions.

“This charter is a key part of that mission and draws on the experience of communities and families affected by substance use. It significantly strengthens our public health and human rights-based approach to substance use-related harms and, over time, it will contribute to significantly improving and saving lives.

“I welcome the support of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights which recognises the charter as the first of its kind in the world.

“We will continue work with the National Collaborative, which developed the charter, and key stakeholders towards its implementation.”

National Collaborative chair, Professor Alan Miller, said: “The charter places people and their human dignity, not punishment and stigma, at the centre. It has been developed by people with life experience of what hasn’t worked and what will work. Let’s all now make these rights real.”

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said: “Criminalisation and prohibition have failed to reduce drug use and deter drug-related crimes. We need new approaches prioritising health, dignity and inclusion, guided by the International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Policy.”