Key facts
- Multiple US states are enacting or considering bans on kratom due to addiction and overdose concerns.
- Hospitalizations linked to kratom have significantly increased, particularly with the emergence of synthetic versions.
- Kratom is described as 'gas-station heroin' and is linked to worsening the opioid crisis by some experts.
- The American Kratom Association disputes the addictive nature of kratom, attributing issues to synthetic variants.
- Idaho reported kratom as a factor in 47 deaths between 2021 and 2023, with a local coroner attributing four deaths solely to kratom's active compound.
More US states are moving to ban kratom, a plant-derived substance that can produce opioid-like effects, amid growing concerns over addiction and overdose risks. The substance, often sold in gas stations and smoke shops, has seen a dramatic increase in hospitalizations and is being linked to the ongoing opioid crisis by public health officials.
Maizie Hepner, a 24-year-old server and bartender from Iowa, described her experience with kratom, initially consuming it in 'herbal tea mocktails' at a bar and later purchasing powder. She reported becoming dependent, experiencing withdrawal symptoms like irritability and sweating when she stopped. Hepner's experience highlights the personal impact of kratom use, with a Reddit group dedicated to quitting kratom having over 40,000 subscribers.
A University of Virginia study indicated a sharp rise in kratom-related hospitalizations from 43 in 2015 to 538 in 2025, a surge attributed partly to the emergence of synthetic versions like 7-OH. This trend has prompted lawmakers in states like Iowa and others to push for bans, viewing kratom as a threat that exacerbates the opioid crisis. At least eight states, including Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee, have already banned the substance, while others are considering similar legislation or restrictions on synthetic forms.
However, opposition exists from some users and industry representatives. Breyer Ferris, a Tennessee smoke shop manager, described kratom as difficult to stop. Conversely, Mac Haddow of the American Kratom Association argues that kratom itself is not addictive or dangerous, attributing problems to synthetic variants and suggesting users may have underlying mental health issues. The association supports banning 7-OH but maintains that natural kratom products are benign.
In Idaho, kratom was cited as a factor in 47 deaths between 2021 and 2023. Local officials in Bonneville county reported four deaths solely due to kratom's active compound, mitragynine, in an 18-month period. Despite a kratom business donating over $34,000 to state campaigns, Idaho Falls approved a ban on kratom sales. Local council member John Radford noted that individuals used kratom to circumvent drug tests and found it harder to quit than other substances.
New York assembly member Phil Steck has supported legislation to ban 7-OH while requiring warning labels on natural kratom products, distinguishing between the two. In Iowa, legislation to criminalize kratom possession has passed the statehouse. A local kava bar employee, Eric Schiesl, stated that kava and kratom drinks helped him achieve sobriety, emphasizing moderation and arguing against prohibition. Hepner, however, advocates for a complete ban on kratom, citing its dangers and the lack of public knowledge.