Kratom poisonings surged 1,200% over the past decade, and regulators are struggling to keep up with the dangers

Conflicting claims about kratom are widespread, but scientific evidence makes the risks clear.

By: Andrew Kolodny, Brandeis University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 2, 2026

Words: 1,102

Last Updated: 3 months, 4 weeks ago

By Andrew Kolodny, Brandeis University

Proposals to ban or regulate kratom, a plant-based substance sold in gas stations, convenience stores and vape shops, are making headlines in local newspapers across the United States. But as lawmakers debate whether to regulate or ban kratom, public health problems associated with the drug continue to rise.

In late March 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that hospitalizations and poisonings involving kratom

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