Is Barbiturates legal in Greece?
- Legal status
- Barbiturates are scheduled psychotropics under Law 4139/2013 (the Drug Code) — a prescription-controlled class transposing the 1971 Convention tiers (secobarbital/pentobarbital/amobarbital higher, phenobarbital/barbital lower), supplied under EOF control.
- Consequences if caught
- Personal-use possession is a misdemeanour (up to ~5 months); supply is a felony.
- If prescribed or medical
- Phenobarbital is prescribed as an antiepileptic (a WHO Essential Medicine); the sedative-hypnotic barbiturates are rarely dispensed.
- Documentation
- Carry the Schengen Article 75 certificate and medical justification; EOF advance authorisation is required for larger quantities.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Greece’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.
Before you travel
Verify current rules with the destination country’s official drug authority and your own country’s embassy before traveling. Find the destination’s U.S. embassy & official country guidance →
Non-U.S. travelers: check your own government’s travel advisory and embassy.
If you’re detained or arrested abroad
Contact your own country’s embassy or consulate in the destination immediately — not the destination’s authorities. U.S. citizens: contact the nearest U.S. embassy/consulate and the U.S. State Department at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad). If a U.S. citizen is arrested or detained abroad →