Kratom Exposures Surge 6,500% Since 2010 as States Debate Bans vs. Consumer Protection

Why it matters

A new peer-reviewed study documents the staggering 6,500% increase in kratom-related poison center calls since 2010, and finds that states with outright bans consistently showed better health outcomes than those using consumer protection approaches or no regulation.

The big picture

Kratom's growing popularity during the opioid crisis has been accompanied by a parallel rise in serious adverse events. This Addiction journal study—the most comprehensive longitudinal analysis to date—covers 2010 through 2023 and finds that nearly one in seven single-substance kratom poison center cases required hospital admission. The findings arrive as dozens of state legislatures are actively debating how to regulate kratom and its potent derivative, 7-hydroxymitragynine.

Key findings

• Kratom exposures reported to U.S. poison centers rose from 19 in 2010 to 1,242 in 2023—a more than 65-fold (6,500%) increase
• Severe outcomes increased from zero in 2010 to 158 cases in 2023, with severe defined as life-threatening, causing significant disability, or resulting in death
• Nearly 1 in 7 single-substance kratom exposures required hospital admission; 1 in 16 needed critical care
• States with outright kratom bans consistently showed lower rates of exposure, severe outcomes, and healthcare utilization than states with consumer protection frameworks or no regulation
• Kratom's interference with drug metabolism pathways can heighten the risks of other substances used concurrently

What they say

Senior author Dr. Ryan Feldman of the Medical College of Wisconsin stated: "Evidence shows kratom can cause serious health effects like seizures, irregular heart rhythms, liver damage, and breathing problems. Ongoing policy debates reflect limited high-quality evidence, highlighting the need for more rigorous, unbiased research to guide legislation. As our research here shows, the kratom problem is not going away anytime soon."

Bottom line

**A new Addiction journal study documents a 6,500% surge in kratom poison center calls since 2010 and finds that ban states consistently outperformed consumer-protection states on health outcomes—adding urgency to the ongoing national policy debate.**