Is Buprenorphine legal in Iraq?
- Legal status
- Buprenorphine is a controlled narcotic under Iraq's Narcotics & Psychotropic Substances Law No. 50 of 2017 — a lighter tier than methadone; capital exposure attaches only to trafficking, not to prescribed use.
- Consequences if caught
- Art. 27 imposes death or life for importing/producing narcotics with intent to trade and is actively enforced (140 drug death sentences reported Jan–Aug 2024), but that reaches aggravated trafficking — prescribed/personal buprenorphine is non-capital.
- If prescribed or medical
- Dispensed as a controlled prescription medicine with prior MoH approval.
- Documentation
- MoH prior approval for controlled-medicine import is essential; carry full documentation.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Iraq’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 →