Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy

Elena Whitham MSP

Contact

Address

Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy
Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

Elena Whitham was appointed Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy in March 2023. 

Responsibilities

Supports the First Minister

Specific responsibilities are:

  • tackling and reducing the harm of problem substance use
  • supporting the rehabilitation and recovery of those living with drug or alcohol dependency
  • reducing drug related deaths
  • alcohol treatment
  • reducing drinking at hazardous and harmful levels 
  • alcohol harm prevention, harm reduction and recovery

Biography

Prior to entering elected politics, Ms Whitham worked in community youth and homelessness roles and ran three businesses as a sole trader, in addition to spending over a decade as a Women’s Aid worker in Ayrshire, supporting women and children experiencing domestic abuse. 

More recently, she served as the Depute Leader of East Ayrshire Council and was also COSLA’s Community Wellbeing Spokesperson, where her remit included housing and homelessness. 

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