Khaberni - Khaberni - With the implementation of Law 159 for the year 2025 regarding the fight against narcotics and psychoactive substances, which comes into effect tomorrow (Monday), the country inaugurates a new phase titled "A comprehensive war against drug dealers, promoters, and those targeting the youth and human wealth of the nation".
This law represents a pivotal turning point in the course of national legislation, establishing a historic and unique legal framework in the state's comprehensive war against drug dealers and the rescue of their victims.
The articles of the law enhance humanitarian opportunities through the provision of secret, safe treatment to addiction victims, and stringent conditions have been set for prescribing narcotic substances and preventing the misuse of medical prescriptions.
The new law, with its 84 articles, translates the country's balanced policy, where it combines strict deterrence of criminal networks and the drying up of their sources by imposing the maximum penalties, along with enhancing enlightened humanitarian opportunities through the provision of secret, safe treatment for addiction victims.
The provisions of the law have enhanced the deterrent system through two parallel paths, the first being the comprehensive toughening of penalties imposed on all types of drug and psychoactive substance crimes, and the second targeting the most serious crimes through penalties up to "death" and "life imprisonment", along with "significant fines" in crimes of importation, smuggling, manufacturing, and cultivation, aimed at eradicating the roots of these criminal activities.
Reporting Culture
Additionally, the law strengthens the culture of responsible reporting for treating an addict, where Article 62 allows a spouse or any relative up to the third degree to report an addict for the purpose of treatment with complete confidentiality guaranteed for the reporter.
Definition of Narcotics
The law is keen on defining narcotic substances, psychoactive substances, chemical precursors, and formulations, as well as covering aspects related to production, manufacturing, cultivation, import, export, transport, procurement, smuggling, promotion, barter, possession, in addition to licensing the trading in narcotic and psychoactive substances and their formulations, and banning any such trading except after obtaining a license from the minister, who issues decisions on licensing procedures and conditions, how to handle them, procedures for transferring them to the entity they were dispensed from, and procedures for their destruction.
Provisions of Chapter Six of the new law organize the production of narcotic substances and psychoactive substances and the manufacturing of formulations containing them, banning the production or manufacturing of substances or formulations narcotic or psychoactive, except for pharmaceutical factories with a license from the competent minister, ensuring that these factories may only use the substances or formulations narcotic or psychoactive as per the operations authorized by the ministry.
Usage Controls
Among the most important controls of using narcotic substances for medical purposes, according to the new law, is that it allows a doctor licensed to practice medicine in the country to prescribe the narcotic substances or psychoactive formulations for patients for a medical necessity and by a special medical prescription, and the quantity of medication prescribed for the patient should not exceed two weeks at a time for narcotic formulations listed in schedules numbers 1, 2, 3 of the first group attached to this law, and two months at a time for psychoactive substance formulations listed in schedules numbers 2, 3, 4 of the second group attached to this law, with an increment in both periods for specific medications possible by a decision from the minister.
According to Law 59 of 2025, a doctor is prohibited from writing a prescription for himself or any members of his family up to the second degree. The doctor or facility he works for, the competent authority in the ministry must be notified in writing or by any other approved electronic method, of the quantity of the medications prescribed for the patient and the reasons for their dispensing within a month from the date of delivery of the prescription to the patient.
Chemical Substances
Among the notable chemical substances and materials and formulations that require a medical prescription in the new law are Phenylacetic acid, which is an important chemical substance but is controlled in some countries for its potential use in the illicit production of stimulants, as well as Propanone, an organic compound that can affect the eyes, nose, throat, and skin if used improperly, according to sources.
Included also in the narcotics schedule are organic compounds and raw materials, among them: Safrole, a natural organic liquid compound, which is sometimes used as an additive in some pharmaceutical formulations, in addition to sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), which is sometimes used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and synthetic fibers, along with "toluene", an organic solvent, and used in pharmaceutical formulations.
The schedules also include "Ephedrine", which was prohibited for use in some countries without consulting a specialist doctor and is sometimes used as a bronchial dilator, as well as lysergic acid, a natural chemical compound, which poses risks related to severe psychological reactions, such as intense anxiety, in addition to barbital (Barbital) , a compound in the form of white crystalline needles, sometimes used in treating patients with anxiety and epilepsy.
Also among the listed medicinal compounds is Codeine , a raw material, used for treating pain, cough, and diarrhea, with negative effects related to itching, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, dry mouth, pupil constriction, along with the substance "DMT" (DMT), a compound from the tryptamine family, with risks related to causing rapid and strong changes in perception among its users, and hallucinatory visions.
Resolved determination in protecting human security
The Cabinet had approved the draft decree-law on combating narcotics and psychoactive substances and regulating their use and trade during its meeting held on October 28th last year, embodying firm will in protecting human and social security and enhancing Kuwait's positioning on the path of alignment with the best international practices in drug control.
Humanitarian and Legal Dimensions
The new law considers both the humanitarian and legal dimensions in Article 61 through the guarantees and controls governing its implementation, which is represented in not prosecuting the addiction who voluntarily submits to an addiction treatment center seeking treatment and rehabilitation provided that this is done before any complaint or request to prosecute him is registered.
The new law attaches utmost importance to ensuring the confidentiality of information and the personal security of individuals dealing with it whether they are reporters or undergoing treatment in a step that enhances trust and encourages seeking help without fear of stigma or defamation.
In this context, Article 56 stipulates that imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years and a fine not exceeding ten thousand dinars or one of these two penalties shall be imposed on anyone who discloses any data or information specifically in reports or treatment of addicts or those deposited in a rehabilitation or addiction treatment center or the examinations indicated in Article 66 of the decree-law without justification and with the intent of abuse.
Strict Conditions
The law imposes strict conditions for prescribing and dispensing narcotic substances in a number of the law's texts, including Articles 20, 22, 24, demonstrating the legislative rigor in controlling medical and professional dealings to prevent leakage and cutting off the exploitation of medical prescriptions.
And accordingly, the most prominent drugs listed in the schedule of narcotics and psychoactive substances (medications prescribed according to the new law)
1 - ALLOBARBITAL
To treat anxiety
● Chemical name:
5.5 diallylbarbituric acid
2 - ALPRAZOLAM
To treat anxiety and panic
● Chemical name: n - chloro - 1 - methyl - 6 - phenyl - 4h - s -triazolo (4.3 - a) (1.4) benzodiazepine
3 - Mefenorex
Pain reliever
● Chemical name:
c - (diethyl amino) propiophenone
4 - BARBITAL
To treat insomnia and epilepsy
● Chemical name: 5.5 - diethyl barbituric acid
5 - AMOBARBITAL
Sedative and hypnotic
● Chemical name:
5 - ethyl - 5 - isopentyl barbit uric acid
6 - CATHINE
To lower harmful cholesterol levels
● Chemical name: (t) - (s) -a - L (s) -1-aminoethyl benzylacohol
7 - PENTOBARBITAL
Sedative and anesthetic
● Chemical name:
5-ethyl-5-1-methylbutyl barbituric acid
8 - CYCLOBARBITAL
For treating
