Kratom
Learn about facts and dangers associated with kratom. Kratom use can lead to physical dependence, have dangerous effects, and cause harm.
Kratom is a drug with stimulant effects (in low doses) and opioid effects (in high doses). It is made from leaves from a tree (Mitragyna speciosa) native to Southeast Asia that are crushed and then smoked, brewed with tea, or placed into gel capsules.
The primary ingredient in kratom is mitragynine, it also contains a smaller amount of 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). It is often marketed as a drug that relieves pain and helps with anxiety and depression.
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1010 Massachusetts Ave.
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Safety Guidelines
Follow these safety guidelines if you or a loved one uses kratom or 7-OH products:
- Never use alone. Always have someone nearby in case of emergency.
- Call 911 immediately if someone becomes unresponsive.
- Do not mix with alcohol, opioids, or other drugs. Kratom significantly elevates overdose risk.
- Keep naloxone nearby. In an overdose, naloxone can reverse the effects of 7-OH and restore breathing.
- Call the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Poison Center for information and emergencies at 1-800-222-1222 (available 24 hours/7-days a week)
- Help is available. If a Boston resident is looking for help with reducing or stopping use of kratom or 7-OH, please call 311 to get connected with the Boston Public Health Commission's PAATHS program for referral to treatment.
About Kratom
AboutNatural kratom leaves and products with concentrated or synthetic 7-OH are not the same. Many extracts are sold as “kratom extract” or “enhanced kratom” but actually contain 7-OH. Products marketed in this way may look like regular kratom products on store shelves but carry much higher risks, including overdose and death. There is also a concern that products made from kratom, in high doses, can cause psychosis.
Kratom use may produce a feeling of increased energy in low doses and, in higher doses, can produce opioid-like effects, including pain relief. There is a concern that mixing kratom use with alcohol, opioids, and other drugs can increase the risk of overdose and death. Kratom products are not regulated, and they risk containing different materials, chemicals, and plants that are not related to kratom, and its effects can vary from person to person.
Side effects of kratom can include:
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Euphoria
- Sleep disturbances
- Increased sociability
- Nervousness
- Restlessness
- Increased energy or excitability
- Slowed breathing
- Sweating
- Vomiting
Contamination in herbal supplements like kratom includes excess traces of heavy metals and bacteria. The FDA has issued numerous warnings about kratom contamination, including the risk of developing heavy metal toxicity and exposure to contamination from Salmonella.
While Kratom products are not illegal under federal or state law, according to the FDA, it is illegal to sell kratom products in the U.S. as a drug product, dietary supplement, or a food additive in conventional food. The FDA warns that kratom products present a risk of illness or injury, including death and may not be sold as drug products, dietary supplements, or food additives.
References
Resources
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Questions? Contact us:
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1010 Massachusetts Ave.
Boston, MA 02118
