North Dakota Kratom Crisis: Deaths Surge, Officials Urge Action

North Dakota has experienced a threefold spike in kratom-related calls to Poison Control between 2024 and 2025, signaling a rise in exposures. Since 2019, 23 deaths in the state have been linked to kratom and related compounds, prompting serious concerns among officials about public safety.

Kratom, a substance from Southeast Asia used for energy and pain management, contains psychoactive ingredients. Concerns are mounting over chemically synthesized, highly potent derivatives that act like opioids and have led to overdoses. These substances are often sold as unregulated supplements in pills or gummies.

In light of these dangers, the North Dakota Board of Pharmacy is pursuing emergency rules to make these substances illegal, separate from legislative action. This proactive measure aims to address the "emerging threats and imminent peril" posed by these products, especially potent synthetic forms like 7-OH.

Federal agencies are also scrutinizing these substances, with the DEA moving to classify 7-OH as a controlled substance. Local measures, like bans in Ray and warnings in Williston, highlight the growing urgency to regulate kratom and its dangerous derivatives across North Dakota.