Drugs in Saudi law represent one of the most dangerous and harmful issues affecting individuals. Drug abuse negatively impacts a person’s mind and poses a serious threat to their life, as it leads to a deterioration of their physical health and public safety. Drugs disrupt vital bodily functions, destroy the central nervous system and digestive system, and increase the likelihood of mental illnesses such as hallucinations, insanity, and delusional thinking. Therefore, drug use is considered a criminal offense in Saudi Arabia, punishable by severe and strict penalties with no leniency.
Drugs in Saudi Law
Drugs are defined as natural or synthetic substances that cause poisoning of the nervous system. When a person stops taking them suddenly, they experience withdrawal symptoms, including a strong desire to resume use. Drugs are prohibited from cultivation and sale in most countries worldwide, although they may be used for medical or therapeutic purposes or scientific research in rare cases. However, their use in these cases must follow international law and the domestic laws of countries like Saudi Arabia.
Drugs are among the most serious problems facing Saudi society, as they cause numerous social and economic issues. They contribute to the breakdown of families, lead to social destruction, and increase violence and crime. As a result, the Saudi government actively combats drug use, trafficking, and smuggling, conducting numerous raids across the Kingdom to apprehend those involved.
Saudi Arabia provides free treatment and psychological counseling to addicts to help them quit and prevent relapse. The government also works to raise public awareness about the dangers of drug use through advertising campaigns and training healthcare and security personnel on how to handle drug-related issues.
The Anti-Drug Law in Saudi Arabia
This law outlines the penalties imposed for all drug-related offenses, whether for use, trafficking, transportation, or incitement to use drugs within the Kingdom. It also defines the acts that warrant penalties concerning drugs.
According to Article 42 of the law, no legal action will be taken for drug use, consumption, or addiction against anyone who voluntarily seeks treatment, either by themselves or through a relative or spouse, provided that they hand over any drugs or controlled substances they possess.
Investigations into first-time drug use or consumption cases may be dismissed if the following conditions are met:
- The accused is under 20 years old.
- The drug use case is not linked to a criminal offense that requires review.
- The drug use case is not linked to a traffic accident resulting in deaths or private rights owed by the accused.
- The accused did not resist arrest in a manner that caused harm to the authorities or others during the arrest.
Drug Penalties in Saudi Law
Because drugs are a societal plague, Saudi Arabia’s Anti-Drug and Psychotropic Substances Law stipulates the circumstances under which individuals are penalized for drug-related offenses.
According to Paragraph 2 of Article 37 of the law, the punishment for drug trafficking or dealing with psychotropic substances is execution (death penalty), but the court may reduce the sentence to a prison term of no less than 15 years, 50 lashes, and a fine of no less than 100,000 SAR, in the following cases:
- Smuggling drugs or psychotropic substances.
- Receiving drugs or psychotropic substances from smugglers.
- Exporting, manufacturing, producing, extracting, cultivating, processing, or importing drugs or psychotropic substances for the purpose of promotion, outside the legal exemptions.
- Participating in any of the above acts.
- Promoting drugs or psychotropic substances for the second time through any operation such as selling, gifting, distributing, delivering, receiving, or transporting, provided that there was a prior conviction for promoting drugs the first time.
- Possessing drugs, seeds, or plants that produce drugs or psychotropic substances for sale, purchase, financing, promotion, delivery, or receipt.
Differences in Punishment for Drug Users, Dealers, and Promoters
The punishment varies depending on the case:
- Possession of drugs for personal use: A prison sentence of no less than six months and no more than two years is imposed, but penalties are harsher in the following cases:
- If the drug is used during working hours.
- If the offender works in drug enforcement, psychotropic substance regulation, or related fields.
- First-time drug offense: The Anti-Drug Law in Saudi Arabia stipulates a prison sentence of no less than six months and no more than two years.
- Drug promotion in Saudi Arabia: The lawmaker has doubled and tightened penalties for drug promoters due to the serious risks they pose to society, families, and individuals. The penalties are as follows:
- First-time promotion: Imprisonment for no less than 15 years.
- Second-time promotion: Execution by the death penalty for promoting and dealing drugs within the Kingdom.
Conclusion
The law does not criminalize drug users who turn themselves in but instead refers them to the Ministry of Health, which works to detoxify their bodies and nervous systems. Afterward, psychological treatment begins, which can take up to six months. The goal is to reintegrate the individual into society and prepare them for the challenges they may face to avoid relapse. The process includes participating in small support groups with others who have faced similar challenges, so they do not feel isolated or ashamed.
It is always preferable for the family to be present throughout the treatment process, as their support provides the strength needed to fight addiction. When the family is involved, the individual feels forgiven for their mistake and welcomed back into the family.
