Kratom Use Explodes in the US, With Life-Changing Consequences

US poison center reports of kratom exposure jumped from 19 cases in 2010 to 1,242 in 2023.

Severe outcomes also rose, reaching 158 cases, including hospitalizations and critical care.

A national analysis found states that banned kratom had fewer exposures, fewer severe cases, and less healthcare use than states with consumer-protection rules or no regulation.

The findings are sharpening debate over how the US should regulate kratom, a widely used but poorly studied substance with opioid-like effects.