Is Barbiturates legal in Bahrain?

Legal status

Barbiturates are controlled psychotropic substances under the Second Group of Bahrain's Decree-Law No. 15 of 2007 on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, implementing 1971 Convention Schedules II–IV (phenobarbital Schedule IV, secobarbital Schedule II, amobarbital/pentobarbital Schedule III). As a lower medicinal-tier substance it sits below the drugs to which capital sentences are applied in practice; the statutory capital reach (Article 30) to this tier, and any quantity threshold, are left to confirmation.

Consequences if caught

Unauthorized trafficking or dealing under Decree-Law No. 15 of 2007 can reach the death penalty or life imprisonment (Article 30) with deportation of non-nationals; possession or use without authorization draws imprisonment and fines.

If prescribed or medical

Phenobarbital and other barbiturate medicines are prescribable in Bahrain only under controlled-medicine rules; importing them requires Bahrain NHRA / Ministry of Health import approval with a valid prescription and attested medical report, capped at about one month's supply.

Documentation

Bring a valid prescription plus an attested doctor's letter or medical report stating patient, physician, drug, dose, route and frequency, with prior NHRA/MoH import approval where required; carrying a controlled medicine without Bahraini clearance can lead to arrest on arrival.

Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Bahrain’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.