US EditionWhat is kratom? Why doctors are sounding alarm on its increased use
Kratom exposures surged from 258 in 2015 to 3,434 in 2025, raising concerns about toxicity and dependence, prompting bans in seven states, CDC data shows.
- Poison control centers report kratom exposure cases surged approximately 1,200 percent over the past ten years, with researchers documenting a sharp rise in calls about the herbal supplement.
- Often sold at gas stations and convenience stores, kratom acts on opioid receptors in the brain, yet many people assume it is a safe, benign herb despite its pharmacological effects.
- Doctor Ali Raja, the vice chair of emergency medicine at Mass General, warns the supplement can cause toxicity, dependence, and withdrawal, with severe sleepiness and racing heart rate requiring immediate medical attention.
- Last week, Connecticut became the seventh state to approve a ban on the supplement, joining Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Vermont, and Wisconsin in prohibiting kratom sales.
- Minnesota lawmakers are currently considering further restrictions on the supplement, including a proposal to raise the legal purchase age from 18 to 21 years old.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Hospitalizations related to the use of kratom grew 1.30% over the 10-year period
Fox 10 Phoenix
Kratom poisonings spikes, what you need to know about the herbal drug
An increasingly popular herbal supplement that has already been banned in several states has recently exploded in reported use and led to a massive spike in exposure reports to U.S. poison control centers.
Kratom Poisoning Reports Increased 1,200% in Recent Years: CDC
As the industry has switched from traditional leaves to concentrated extracts, the number of kratom overdose deaths have spiked in recent years, leading to a number of poisoning lawsuits now being pursued by consumers. Federal regulators say kratom poisoning cases have risen sharply since 2015, a trend they attribute to increasingly potent products entering t…
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