Kratom: What You Need to Know About This Natural Opioid University of Utah Health

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — The parents of a 32-year-old man who died after allegedly using a kratom product sold as a wellness tonic have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the product’s manufacturer and several Palm Beach County retailers. Since then, FDA regulators have continued to issue warnings about cases of injury, addiction and death with kratom supplements, which are usually sold in capsules or powders. On Tuesday, a rival group that supports the availability of 7-OH drugs criticized the government's move, pointing to the influence of kratom suppliers. Federal regulators have been scrutinizing kratom for about a decade after reports of addiction, injury and overdose. The agency’s recommendation will be reviewed by the Drug Enforcement Administration, which sets federal rules for high-risk drugs including prescription medicines and illicit substances.

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The federal agency’s recommendation will be reviewed by the DEA, which ultimately has the authority to categorize the chemical as an illegal drug but not without a draft of its findings, followed by a public The Bulk Kratom comment period. The FDA is particularly concerned with the growing market of 7-OH products that may be especially appealing to children and teenagers, such as fruit-flavored gummies and ice cream cones that aren’t clearly labeled as having 7-OH content. The ingredient is being used in products that are becoming increasingly available to purchase online and at smoke shops, the agency warned.

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“It first came to my attention in dealing with local high school athletes that were using it for anxiety and pain control from soreness after practice,” Quigley said. Part of that disagreement stems from the nature of the plant itself. News stations reported that drug paraphernalia was found at the scene. Arkansas outlawed the plant a decade ago – long before Clarke crossed into the state in April on his way to show off his new supercharged Corvette ZR1. “Sir, it’s all legal,” Clarke’s deep voice called out with calm certainty in an exchange captured by the cruiser’s dashcam and obtained by The Athletic.

Our mission is to raise awareness, connect and educate pain sufferers, caregivers, healthcare providers and the public about the pain experience. Once dismissed as “unproven,” kratom is finally being recognized as a potential solution to one of America’s biggest health problems. Ironically, much of the hysteria about kratom has been fueled by the same federal health agencies that now want to learn about its benefits. In a PNN survey of over 6,000 kratom users, about one in ten said they used kratom as a treatment for OUD or alcoholism, with over 90% saying it was “very effective.” Many said kratom reduced their cravings and helped ween them from drugs.

• Different strains have unique effects and dosing considerations.
• There, the 235 grams of kratom and 7-OH deputies said they found inside Clarke’s duffel bag carried the weight of a felony drug trafficking charge, one prosecutors put on par with heroin possession.
• Several others, including Arizona, Colorado, South Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia, have implemented restrictions targeting high-potency formulations.
• The largest number of kratom bills that have been introduced this legislative session do not look to ban or schedule the substance, but instead add regulations for how kratom and kratom-related products can be made and sold in the state.

The FDA has issued import alerts and warning letters but has not banned the plant. Misuse of our products may lead to dependence. It’s a potent kratom alkaloid designed for careful, responsible use. Read more about kava vs kratom and find out how these two botanical-based ingredients can complement each other to support you everyday wellness. Read our deep dive into kava vs kratom. Setting a new standard for kratom purity.

Most users aren’t seeking a caffeine-like boost—they’re looking for the opioid-like effects to manage pain or avoid prescription opioids. “Similarly, with kratom—while not nearly as potent as a stimulant—it is unusual that it also acts like an opioid when taken at a higher dose.” CBS12 also spoke with Talavera’s son, who warned families about what he called the hidden dangers of kratom. In 2023, CBS12 reported on a separate wrongful death case involving Krystal Talavera, a Boynton Beach mother of four who died after drinking kratom tea.

• These statements and products presented on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration FDA.
• The AG’s office had sued the company in March, focusing in particular on concentrated 7-OH products it characterized as hazardous.
• Nothing in this website is meant to be used for medical or nursing diagnosis or professional treatment.
• Interested in more 7-hydroxymitragynine products (also known as 7 Hydro)?
• This is the kratom news headline most natural-leaf retailers were watching this week.

Over the 10-year period, more than 14,400 kratom exposures were reported. To better understand the trend, UVA Health researchers led by Rita Farah, PhD, MPH, PharmD, analyzed kratom-related calls reported to the National Poison Data System. Because the products are not regulated, consumers cannot be sure what they are taking.

But it has recently emerged in the U.S. as an unofficial remedy for anxiety, pain and drug addiction, with companies marketing it in the U.S. as all-natural and safe for consumption. The FDA and HHS announced a call to action against 7-OH products in a press conference on Tuesday, where Robert F. Kennedy Jr. described its growing availability and the weight of addiction on the American people. While vendors may advertise kratom as safe and "all-natural," the composition can vary widely and may not accurately reflect the product labeling, experts caution. Americans most commonly use kratom for self-treatment of chronic pain and to help battle opioid withdrawal symptoms, he added. It has also been used for pain management, and some individuals have turned to kratom to ease opioid withdrawal symptoms.

Traditionally, people have used the leaves by chewing them, crushing them, or brewing them into tea for pain relief and mood enhancement. Hospitalizations involving only kratom rose more than 1,150% over the decade, climbing from 43 cases in 2015 to 538 in 2025. A new University of Virginia Health analysis shows a sharp rise in kratom-related calls to poison centers across the United States. Shipping Kratom products must be restricted to the states & cities above.

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