ARABIAN TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Kuwait’s new 2025 draft decree-law on combating drugs and psychotropic substances represents a landmark reform aimed at unifying legislation, tightening regulatory oversight, and introducing a more balanced national approach to prevention, control, and rehabilitation. The draft law, recently approved by the Cabinet, merges existing laws on narcotics and psychotropic substances into a single, comprehensive framework.
It seeks to modernize oversight mechanisms, strengthen deterrence against trafficking and misuse, and promote a humane and therapeutic response to addiction. According to informed sources from the Ministry of Justice, the new law introduces strict regulations on the medical use of psychotropic substances. Doctors are prohibited from prescribing such drugs without approved medical justification, with violators facing up to three years in prison.
Pharmacies that fail to maintain proper control of narcotics face fines up to 100,000 Kuwaiti dinars and potential closure for up to five years. For travelers, the law mandates verification of prescribed narcotics before entering Kuwait. Prescriptions must be electronically approved or confirmed by Kuwaiti authorities to prevent forgery, abuse, and illegal recruitment for fraudulent prescriptions.
A major innovation of the draft law is the establishment of the Supreme Council for Combating Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, which will oversee national strategies and preventive programs. It also expands mandatory drug testing to applicants for marriage, driver’s licenses, firearms permits, and government employment, while authorizing random workplace testing. Law enforcement powers are enhanced, allowing police to arrest individuals suspected of drug use without prior warrants.
The law criminalizes associating with drug users and inciting drug consumption, both punishable by up to three years in prison. Planting drugs on others or forcing them to consume narcotics carries up to 15 years in prison, and in severe cases, the death penalty. In keeping with Kuwait’s digital transformation goals, the draft mandates electronic monitoring of narcotic prescriptions.
Physicians and medical institutions must record all transactions in a centralized digital database, improving transparency and replacing outdated paper-based systems. Penalties for traffickers and smugglers have been significantly increased, with the death penalty and fines up to two million dinars for major offenders. While the law enforces strict punitive measures, it also adopts a compassionate approach toward addicts.
Those who voluntarily seek treatment are exempt from prosecution, and their identities are protected by law. Confidentiality breaches carry penalties of up to two years in prison and fines of 10,000 dinars. By merging legislation, embracing digital governance, empowering enforcement, and integrating treatment-focused reforms, Kuwait’s 2025 draft drug law marks a pivotal step toward a comprehensive and balanced national strategy to combat drugs and psychotropic substances.
