Mental Health Act to cover severe substance use if life-threatening
We call on the Government to amend the Mental Health Act to include severe substance use disorder. Currently, this alone does not meet the threshold for detention. If a person is deemed to have mental capacity, they can refuse treatment even if their addiction is causing life-threatening harm.
Signatures
152
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 152/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 152/100,000
- 08 APR 2026Petition opened for signaturesCreated by Anthony Fisher
Background
I am calling on the Government to amend the Mental Health Act to address, what in our view, is a dangerous gap in severe addiction cases. When substance dependence is causing life-threatening harm, services may decline assessment because addiction alone does not meet Mental Health Act thresholds. We believe this leaves professionals and families powerless while people deteriorate. We need a statutory duty to assess high-risk cases and lawful pathways to intervene to preserve life.