Kratom's Hidden Dangers: More Than Just a Wellness Plant

Kratom, a substance derived from a Southeast Asian tree, is increasingly contributing to opioid use disorder across the United States. Despite its legal sale in many states at gas stations and convenience stores, its primary active compound acts as an opioid, binding to the same brain receptors as heroin and prescription painkillers. This leads to tolerance, dependence, and severe withdrawal symptoms, often mistaken for unrelated ailments by medical professionals as kratom doesn't register on standard drug screens.

Over the past decade, poisonings and hospitalizations associated with kratom have dramatically increased by 1,200 percent, a trend that began before the emergence of 7-OH kratom products. While the DEA has moved to ban these chemically treated, more potent versions, the ordinary kratom leaf, sold as powders, capsules, and extracts, remains widely accessible. The Food and Drug Administration has long warned about kratom's risks, including liver toxicity and seizures, classifying it as an opioid.

Evidence from states that have prohibited kratom, such as Vermont, Indiana, and Alabama, indicates a significant reduction in kratom-related poisonings and deaths. Conversely, states with age restrictions and testing standards have not fared better, suggesting a broader approach is necessary. The ongoing availability of kratom without a prescription continues to fuel the opioid crisis by enabling new cases of opioid use disorder.