Kuwait has issued Amiri Decree Law No. 159 of 2025 on combating drugs and psychotropic substances, marking a comprehensive legislative overhaul aimed at strengthening prevention, enforcement and rehabilitation frameworks.
The Ministry of Interior confirmed that the new law reflects Kuwait’s move toward a more rigorous and far-reaching approach to tackling narcotics and regulating their use and trafficking.
The law will come into effect on December 15, comprising 84 articles across 13 chapters and covering punitive, preventative and therapeutic measures.
It also governs medical use and strengthens oversight of the distribution of narcotic and psychotropic substances.
Kuwait drugs laws
In a televised interview, Brigadier General Mohammad Qabazard, Head of the General Directorate for Drug Control at the Ministry of Interior, said the law constitutes a comprehensive legislative framework that aims to improve community security and increase the effectiveness of prevention, treatment and rehabilitation programmes.
He noted that the tightening of regulations comes amid the global expansion of trafficking networks and the emergence of new types of narcotics and psychotropic substances.
Qabazard added that the new legislation includes deterrent penalties, reaching the death penalty in some articles, forming part of Kuwait’s stronger stance against drug trafficking crimes and efforts to protect society from their growing dangers.
He also emphasised that addiction complaints will be treated with complete confidentiality, and that anyone who discloses confidential information related to such complaints will be held legally accountable.
This measure aims to protect applicants’ privacy and encourage individuals to seek treatment without hesitation.
Stricter controls on dispensing narcotics
Qabazard stressed that pharmacists are prohibited from dispensing any narcotic or psychotropic substances unless supported by a prescription issued by the Ministry of Interior or a licensed physician, and only in quantities aligned with a patient’s medical needs.
He called on the public to cooperate with the Ministry in combating drugs, stating that protecting society is a shared responsibility requiring coordinated official and community efforts.
Brigadier General Hamad Al-Sabah, Assistant Director General of the General Directorate for Drug Control, said several unlicensed farms were raided in 2025, resulting in the seizure of various narcotic substances.
He noted that these operations are part of ongoing efforts to confront illegal activities and reinforce community security.
Al-Sabah urged the public to report suspicious activities to the department’s hotlineand reiterated that reporting processes are conducted with complete confidentiality to protect the identity of informants and support broader security efforts.
National campaign
Brigadier General Nasser Bouslaib, the Interior Ministry’s official spokesperson and Director General of the Ministry’s Public Relations and Security Media Department, announced the launch of a national awareness campaign branded “We Protect Our Nation.”
The campaign aims to increase public awareness of the dangers of narcotics and reduce their spread.
The first phase will run for two weeks, focusing on familiarising the public with the provisions of the new law before its implementation on December 15.
The second phase will expand into a year-round awareness programme, educating the public about narcotics and psychotropic substances, outlining stricter penalties and clarifying legal pathways for addiction treatment.
Bouslaib said the campaign targets teenagers, youth, parents and the wider public, underscoring that raising awareness is essential to protecting society and aligns with broader efforts in Kuwait to enhance community security and prevention.
