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. 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. Following the
2023 SNP leadership election, incumbent
First Minister Humza Yousaf appointed
Elena Whitham as the renamed
Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy. On 7 February 2024, Whitham announced she resigning from the post due to her suffering from
PTSD. 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. In June 2024, McKelvie announced that she had
breast cancer and that she would go on leave while she underwent treatment for it. On March 10 2025, McKelvie announced that due to her health problems caused by the breast cancer, she would not
run for reelection in 2026 and planned to continue her cancer treatment. Unfortunately, McKelvie died on March 27 2025 of the breast cancer. On 11 June 2025,
Maree Todd was appointed to the newly renamed role as
Minister for Drugs & Alcohol Policy and Sport. Todd had previously been
Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport and retained her responsibility for the sport portfolio when appointed. == Overview ==