Kuwait’s Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi, has issued four key ministerial decisions to strengthen the country’s fight against drug abuse and regulate the medical use of narcotics. These measures implement Decree-Law No. 159 of 2025 and form part of a broader state strategy to build an integrated legal system that safeguards society and enhances public health security. The decisions aim to balance the need for strict control with ensuring patients’ rights to safe, organized treatment.
The first decision designates the Al-Sulaibiya Youth Center as a dedicated Addiction Rehabilitation Center, creating an integrated treatment pathway that combines healthcare with psychological and social support. This initiative is designed to improve recovery outcomes and help reintegrate recovered individuals into society. The second decision establishes a clear framework for approving prescriptions for narcotics and psychotropic substances brought into Kuwait from abroad, permitting limited personal-use quantities under strict verification through Kuwaiti diplomatic missions or approved digital channels.
A third decision introduces strict controls over the use and trade of these substances within licensed health facilities. It mandates prior licenses for import, export, or transport, sets standards for medical prescription and dispensing, and requires detailed record-keeping. The regulation also covers the handling of such materials by doctors in emergencies and their circulation in hospitals and labs to ensure responsible medical use.
The fourth decision creates a comprehensive legal framework for admitting individuals to addiction treatment centers, whether voluntarily, through family or employer referral, or by health authority order. It emphasizes confidentiality and allows for diversion from criminal prosecution to rehabilitation. Treatment-related detention can last up to three months by order of the Public Prosecution or one year by judicial ruling, with early release possible upon medical recovery. The framework also outlines procedures for monitoring and transferring patients to ensure continuity of care.
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