Scotland’s drugs and alcohol minister has revealed for the first time that both her parents struggled with alcoholism during her childhood, sharing an emotional account of how recovery transformed her family’s life.

Maree Todd, appointed to the crucial role by First Minister John Swinney in June, grew up in Ullapool where her “loving” parents John and Christina both drank heavily before deciding to get sober when she was 12 years old.

The SNP minister alcoholic parents revelation comes as her father celebrates four decades of sobriety this year, with Todd hoping their story demonstrates “that change can happen” for others facing similar struggles.

A Community That Cared

Despite the challenges of growing up with parents battling addiction, Todd describes her childhood in the west Highland village as generally positive, thanks to a supportive local community that looked after her and her sister Fiona.

“When I was minister for children and young people I used to say it takes a village to raise a child, and I came from a good village,” Todd explained. “So when my parents were drinking, I had adults all around me who were looking out for me and who made sure I was fed and safe.”

The close-knit nature of Ullapool meant the family’s struggles were visible to neighbours, but this visibility became a blessing rather than a burden. “We knew that what was happening in our house wasn’t normal, we knew that other houses weren’t like that,” Todd said.

The Road to Damascus Moment

The turning point came when a friend from their village, who was in recovery himself, approached Todd’s father to ask him to seek help through Alcoholics Anonymous. The SNP minister alcoholic parents story took a positive turn when her mother Christina was persuaded to attend AA meetings alongside her husband.

Initially, supporters told Christina it was normal for spouses to attend meetings with their partners – a well-intentioned approach that proved life-changing.

“My mum went along to this meeting and literally had this road to Damascus moment as she sat there listening to the testimonies around the table and thought ‘actually this is where I am’… she realised that there and then,” Todd recalled.

Forty Years of Transformation

While Todd’s father, described as a “typical west Highlander” who doesn’t talk much, didn’t continue regularly attending AA meetings, he has maintained his sobriety for four decades. Her mother Christina remained deeply involved with AA until her death in 2022, accumulating 38 years of sobriety despite a “handful” of relapses.

The SNP minister alcoholic parents experience profoundly shaped Todd’s understanding of addiction and recovery. Fighting back tears, she described how the fellowship supported her family: “When my mum died, it was a really profound experience for myself and my sister to be able to say thank-you to the fellowship for what they had done to help our parents to get sober.”

Beyond Shame to Hope

Although there were moments of anger and shame during her childhood, Todd emphasises that she never lost love for her parents, describing them as “really loving” people whose only significant flaw was their drinking.

“I was 10, 11, 12 years old and there were moments of real shame, moments of real anger,” she admitted. “Throughout this I loved my parents, they were really loving. One of the reasons that I’m so sorted is because the only thing my parents got wrong was the drinking.”

The experience of growing up as the daughter of Scottish politician addiction family circumstances hasn’t been something Todd has discussed publicly during her near-decade in Parliament. She qualified as a pharmacist before entering politics in 2016, bringing valuable healthcare experience to her current ministerial role.

A Message of Possibility

Todd’s decision to share her family’s story stems from a desire to inspire others facing similar challenges. Her father feels comfortable with her discussing their experience because they both recognise the power of demonstrating that recovery is achievable.

“One of the reasons I’m so keen to talk about it is because I want people who read your work or come across your work to understand that change can happen,” Todd explained.

The SNP minister alcoholic parents story serves as a powerful reminder that addiction affects families across all social strata, but with proper support and community care, recovery and rebuilding are possible.

Todd’s unique perspective as someone who witnessed both the devastation of addiction and the transformation that recovery can bring adds authenticity to her role overseeing Scotland’s drugs and alcohol policy. Her family’s journey from active addiction to decades of sobriety demonstrates that even in the darkest circumstances, hope remains.

The minister’s willingness to share such personal details reflects a broader understanding that destigmatising addiction and recovery requires honest conversations about the realities families face. Her story emphasises that with the right support systems – whether formal programmes like AA or informal community networks – people can overcome addiction and rebuild their lives.

As Scotland continues to grapple with drug and alcohol-related harms, having a minister who understands these challenges through lived family experience brings valuable perspective to policy development and implementation.

Source: Scottish Daily Express