Written Question·Department of Health and Social Care·UIN 117991

Addictions

Tabled: 4 March 2026
Answered: 19 March 2026

Question

Michael Payne

LabourGedling

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government plans to include addiction or substance use disorder within the statutory definition of a mental disorder for the purposes of the Mental Health Act.

Answer

Dr Zubir Ahmed
The Mental Health Act 1983, specifically Section 1, subsection 3, states that “Dependence on alcohol or drugs is not considered to be a disorder or disability of the mind” for the purposes of the act, and we did not amend this in the Mental Health Act 202...

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