Kratom Calls to New York Poison Center Have More Than Doubled in 2026, Toxicologist Reports

Why it matters

Poison center call volumes are a leading indicator of real-world harm. Kratom-related calls in New York's Upstate region more than doubled in the first half of 2026 compared to all of 2025, signaling a rapidly worsening public health situation.

The big picture

Kratom's expanded retail availability — now sold at gas stations and convenience stores alongside energy drinks — is directly linked to surging poison center contacts. The CDC confirmed the same upward trend nationally. Toxicologist Willie Eggleston notes that newer products like kratom extracts, dissolvable strips, and 7-OH shots contain far higher alkaloid concentrations than the powders and capsules used just a few years ago, amplifying dependence and overdose risk.

Key findings

• Upstate New York Poison Center received over 50 kratom-related calls in all of 2025; by mid-2026 that number was already exceeded.
• A CDC report confirmed kratom was found in the systems of more than 5,200 people who died of drug overdoses in the U.S. between 2020 and 2024.
• Kratom now sold in gas stations and convenience stores, a major shift from smoke shops and online-only availability just a few years ago.
• New extract and 7-OH products may contain 10x or more alkaloid content compared to traditional powders, increasing addiction and overdose risk.
• Naloxone (Narcan) effectively reverses kratom overdose symptoms related to opioid action, including slowed breathing and sedation.
• Methadone and buprenorphine (Suboxone) are effective treatment options for kratom dependence, similar to treatment for opioid use disorder.

What they say

"For all intents and purposes, kratom is an opioid. Some of these more potent strains — the one we've seen out there is 7-hydroxymitragynine, which you may see as 7-OH — this is like a stronger version of kratom, and it is a more strong opioid," said Willie Eggleston, PharmD, assistant clinical director of the Upstate New York Poison Center.

Bottom line

**Kratom's surge into mainstream retail is driving a documented spike in poison center calls, overdoses, and dependence — and concentrated 7-OH products are making the risk profile significantly worse.**