Controlled drugs in Thailand

Two kinds of controlled substance

Thai law controls two groups of substances, both now under the Narcotics Code:

Narcotics (ยาเสพติดให้โทษ), in five categories, e.g. opioids.
Psychotropic substances (วัตถุออกฤทธิ์ต่อจิตและประสาท), in four categories, e.g. stimulants, sleeping tablets and benzodiazepines.

The Thai FDA Narcotics Control Division’s traveller list covers 2,567 substances and combinations. 475 of them are narcotic or psychotropic. The rest are listed as “Others”, meaning ordinary medicines for travel purposes. (List retrieved 30 September 2026.)

The categories

Category	What it means	Substances	Examples on the official list
Narcotic, Category 1	No accepted medical use in Thailand. Cannot be prescribed or brought in.	89	Heroin, Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, MDMA, Dexamphetamine
Narcotic, Category 2	Medical narcotics, such as strong opioids. Strictly controlled; travellers need a permit.	106	Morphine, Codeine, Oxycodone, Fentanyl, Pethidine
Narcotic preparations	Medicines that combine a narcotic with other ingredients, e.g. codeine combinations. Travellers need a permit.	72	Codeine + Ammonium Chloride + Chlorpheniramine + Phenylephrine, Codeine + Anhydrous Calcium Iodide, Codeine + Aspirin
Narcotic, Category 4	Chemicals used to make narcotics (precursors), not medicines.	39	1-phenyl-2-propanone, 3,4-MDP-2-P methyl glycidate (PMK glycidate)
Narcotic, Category 5	Plant-based narcotics not in other categories. Special rules apply.	5	Cannabis, Cannabis (Hemp) (Cannabis sativa L. subsp. sativa ), Mitragyna speciosa
Psychotropic, Category 1	No accepted medical use. Cannot be prescribed or brought in.	57	Cathinone, Mescaline, Psilocybine, DMT
Psychotropic, Category 2	Medicines with high potential for misuse, e.g. stimulants and Z-drugs.	50	Methylphenidate, Alprazolam, Zolpidem, Zopiclone, Phentermine
Psychotropic, Category 3	Psychotropic medicines with moderate misuse potential.	8	Amobarbital, Butalbital, Cyclobarbital
Psychotropic, Category 4	Mostly benzodiazepines and similar medicines.	49	Diazepam, Clonazepam, Lorazepam, Phenobarbital, Chlordiazepoxide

Counts and examples are generated from the official list, so a substance can only appear in the category the Thai FDA gives it.

What it means for patients

Category 1 (narcotic or psychotropic): not available in Thailand and cannot be brought in, even with a foreign prescription.
Other narcotic and psychotropic categories: available only on prescription, usually through hospitals and licensed clinics rather than ordinary pharmacies.
Travelling: psychotropics (Schedules II–IV) are allowed up to 30 days with a prescription, or 31–90 days with a permit. Narcotics (Schedules II–III) always need a permit. See bringing medication to Thailand.

Possession without authorisation is a serious offence

Carrying a controlled substance without the right prescription or permit can lead to arrest and prosecution in Thailand. If in doubt, check before you travel.

Commonly assumed to be controlled, but not

Some medicines that are tightly controlled in other countries are in the “Others” group on the Thai traveller list: Tramadol, Pregabalin, Gabapentin, Modafinil, Atomoxetine, Melatonin. For travellers, the ordinary 30-day rule applies to them. Thai pharmacies may still need a prescription to sell them. Check each medicine page for its Thai legal class.

Controlled medicines in our database

Ingredient	Thai category	Travellers
Alprazolam	Psychotropic substance, Category 2	Prescription ≤30 days · permit 31–90 days
Amphetamine	Narcotic, Category 1	Not allowed
Clonazepam	Psychotropic substance, Category 4	Prescription ≤30 days · permit 31–90 days
Codeine	Narcotic, Category 2	Permit required
Diazepam	Psychotropic substance, Category 4	Prescription ≤30 days · permit 31–90 days
Lisdexamfetamine	Narcotic, Category 2	Permit required
Lorazepam	Psychotropic substance, Category 4	Prescription ≤30 days · permit 31–90 days
Methylphenidate	Psychotropic substance, Category 2	Prescription ≤30 days · permit 31–90 days
Oxycodone	Narcotic, Category 2	Permit required
Phentermine	Psychotropic substance, Category 2	Prescription ≤30 days · permit 31–90 days
Zolpidem	Psychotropic substance, Category 2	Prescription ≤30 days · permit 31–90 days
Zopiclone	Psychotropic substance, Category 2	Prescription ≤30 days · permit 31–90 days

A note on cannabis and kratom

Thailand’s rules on cannabis and kratom have changed several times in recent years, and some related entries appear in Narcotics Category 5 on the traveller list. Rules for these plants are separate from the medicine rules on this site. See our up-to-date guide: is cannabis legal in Thailand?

Common questions

Is tramadol a controlled drug in Thailand?

Tramadol is not on the Thai narcotic or psychotropic lists. The Thai FDA traveller list puts it in the “Others” group, so the ordinary 30-day rule applies to travellers. It is still a registered medicine with its own sales rules.

Are benzodiazepines controlled in Thailand?

Yes. Benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Category 2) and diazepam, clonazepam and lorazepam (Category 4) are psychotropic substances under Thai law.

Can I get ADHD stimulants in Thailand?

Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta and others) is a Category 2 psychotropic that is legally supplied in Thailand on prescription. Amphetamine is a Category 1 narcotic, so amphetamine-based medicines such as Adderall are not available.

Sources

General information, not medical or legal advice. Rules change, so confirm with the Thai FDA before you travel. Spotted an error? Tell us.

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