Kratom Addiction Surges: A New Opioid Threat?

Addiction treatment centers across the United States are reporting a significant increase in patients seeking help for dependence on kratom and its derivatives, with cases at telehealth clinic Boulder Care jumping from 3% to 14% of new patients between September 2025 and August 2026. These newer, potent products contain highly concentrated levels of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a compound that directly affects the brain's opioid receptors, producing strong, opioid-like effects.

The Food and Drug Administration has identified 7-OH products as an emerging opioid threat, and the Drug Enforcement Administration has proposed a ban. Clinicians note that withdrawal symptoms for these products are now being treated with the same intensity as those for fentanyl or heroin, reflecting a growing severity. Inpatient clinics in Massachusetts, for example, have seen weekly admissions for kratom or 7-OH dependence rise from one to 10-20 per week.

Individuals seeking treatment range from those new to drug use to individuals with prior treatment experience, often using kratom for pain relief, anxiety, or energy boost. Federal data indicates a rise in lifetime kratom users from approximately 4 million in 2019 to 5 million by 2023, with poison center reports increasing sharply. Early research suggests medications used for opioid use disorder, like buprenorphine, may aid in managing kratom dependence.