Requirement of drug testing for nationals and expatriates in Kuwait

Kuwait City: A Member of Parliament has called on all people living in the country, including locals and foreigners, to undergo drug testing. The MP submitted the recommendation to the Parliament in the wake of the huge increase in drug cases in the country. Mohammed al-Sawyer MP wants a medical examination to find out if they are using drugs.

He said if they are natives, they should be subjected to a drug test at the time of applying for a job or getting married. If they are expatriates, they should be checked at the time of renewal of visa. Of the more than 48 lakh people in Kuwait, 34 lakh are foreigners.

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He said 17,000 drug cases have been reported in the country in the last 10 years. There have been tens of thousands of cases in Kuwait in the last five years. The cases were related to drug use, their distribution and drug trafficking. This can only be reduced through planned action. He said this would be the first step in curbing the spread of drug abuse.

He also cited medical reports that 327 people had died in the country due to overuse of drugs and alcohol in the last five years. Drugs such as hashish, methamphetamine and marijuana are widely used in Kuwait. He added that imitating celebrities, bad associations, family problems and the use of social media are leading many to become addicted to drugs.