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The Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy is a junior ministerial post in the Scottish Government. As a result, the minister does not attend the Scottish Cabinet but reports directly to the First Minister of Scotland. [1] [2] The Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy role is currently vacant following the resignation of Elena Whitham, who was appointed in March 2023. [3]
The office was created in December 2020 by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon following the resignation of Minister for Public Health, Joe FitzPatrick. His resignation was triggered by the figures released that showed Scotland again had the worst drug death rate in Europe. [4] Sturgeon stated that her government had taken their "eye off the ball on drug deaths" and appointed Angela Constance to take on the new dedicated role as Minister for Drugs Policy. [5] [6]
Following the 2023 SNP leadership election, incumbent First Minister Humza Yousaf appointed Elena Whitham as the renamed Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy. [7] On 7 February 2024, Whitham announced she resigning from the post due to her suffering from PTSD. [8] The following day, as part of a wider cabinet reshuffle, triggered by the resignation of Health Secretary, Michael Matheson, Yousaf appointed Christina McKelvie to the post. [9]
The specific responsibilities of the minister are: [1]
The responsibilities of the new Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy within the Yousaf government are still to be announced.
Minister for Drugs Policy | ||||||
| Name | Portrait | Assumed office | Left office | Party | First Minister | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angela Constance |  | 18 December 2020 | 29 March 2023 | Scottish National Party | Nicola Sturgeon | |
Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy | ||||||
| Elena Whitham |  | 29 March 2023 | 7 February 2024 | Scottish National Party | Humza Yousaf | |
| Christina McKelvie |  | 8th February 2024 | incumbent | Scottish National Party | Humza Yousaf | |
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