In his two-and-a-half year tenure, Scotland recorded 2,451 drugs deaths.
Joe FitzPatrick.
He said the “most heart-breaking and difficult problems” he faced as public health minister were the harms and deaths caused by drug use.
“As the minister responsible for this area I, ultimately, take my responsibility,” he added.
“It is clear that my presence as a minister will become a distraction, when we should be focused on achieving the change we need to save lives.”
Accepting his resignation, Ms Sturgeon said “the time has now come to make a change.”
Mr FitzPatrick accused the UK Government of being “depressingly dismissive” during his time in the role, with Westminster ministers repeatedly turning down invites to meet the task force.