Is Scopolamine (Devil's Breath) legal in New Zealand?
- Legal status
- Scopolamine (hyoscine) is an approved medicine, not a controlled drug: the Scopoderm patch is a Medsafe-classified pharmacy-only medicine sold without prescription, and hyoscine is not scheduled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.
- Consequences if caught
- Hyoscine carries no Misuse of Drugs penalty; unauthorised supply of a pharmacy-only medicine is a Medicines Act matter, not a drug-trafficking offence.
- If prescribed or medical
- The Scopoderm patch is bought over the counter from a pharmacy for motion sickness; hyoscine butylbromide (Buscopan) is dispensed for spasm; injectable hyoscine is used clinically.
- Documentation
- Scopoderm (scopolamine transdermal) is Medsafe-approved and available as a pharmacy-only motion-sickness patch; travellers carry it lawfully.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with New Zealand’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 →