● Khat, a stimulant that is chewed in its natural leaf form, is legal in the UK but illegal in several western countries, including Norway, Sweden, Finland, the US and Canada.
Dr Dawood says the rules on illegal drugs, and the application of them, is often arbitrary. “Travellers shouldn’t get too worked up about finding what is illegal and what isn’t,” he says. “You can’t jump through every bureaucratic hoop.” Instead, according to Dr Dawood, it is much more helpful to take the following precautions:
● Carry medicine in its original packaging so that it can be unmistakably identified. If it is prescription medicine, make sure the package has a pharmacist’s label with your name printed on it.
● Carry a copy of the prescription written by your GP.
● Carry the medicine as part of a larger medical kit.
● Take the telephone number of your GP. Other useful tips are:
● Carry the smallest quantities you need for the medicine so you can avoid charges of dealing.
● One source you can consult before travelling is the Home Office drugs line: 020 7035 0472. The Home Office can also issue permits for UK citizens to take drugs out of the UK but that does not obviate the need to comply with the regulations of other countries.
A final worry for the returning traveller is whether drugs they have bought legitimately abroad are illegal in the UK. The Home Office says there are bound to be examples of this but – once again – there is no list available. Fortunately, one substance over which British citizens have no fear is melatonin, which is often taken to ward off jet-lag. Melatonin is available over the counter in many countries, including the US, but not in the UK. However, the Home Office confirms it is permitted for travellers to bring melatonin into the UK.
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