BBC News
Published
image copyrightPA Media
image captionMr FitzPatrick said earlier this week that he would continue doing his job despite calls for him to quit
Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick has lost his job in government after Scotland recorded its highest ever number of drug deaths.
The first minister has appointed Angela Constance as a minister to take charge of the response to the drugs crisis.
She will be a full-time drugs minister, reporting directly to Nicola Sturgeon.
Labour and the Liberal Democrats had been demanding Mr FitzPatrick s resignation and were preparing a vote of no confidence in him.