Kratom Poison Center Calls Surge 1,200% Over a Decade, With Record 3,434 Reports in 2025

Why it matters

The dramatic spike in kratom-related poison center calls — including a record 2025 surge driven in part by newer, more potent formulations — signals a worsening public health situation that has prompted researchers to call for stricter scrutiny and public education campaigns.

The big picture

The steady rise in kratom-related adverse events tracked by poison control centers reflects both growing national use and a shift toward concentrated, higher-potency kratom products containing chemicals like 7-hydroxymitragynine. Published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the UVA Health analysis covers a full decade of national poison data, providing the most comprehensive picture yet of kratom's public health footprint.

Key findings

• Kratom-related poison center reports rose from 258 in 2015 to a record 3,434 in 2025 — a 1,200%+ increase
• Hospitalizations from kratom alone rose more than 1,150% (43 in 2015 to 538 in 2025)
• When combined with other substances, hospitalizations linked to kratom rose nearly 1,300%
• 233 deaths were related to kratom over the study period; 184 involved multiple substances
• In 2025, 60% of multi-substance exposure reports had 'serious medical outcomes' and half required hospitalization
• Reports increased steadily 2015–2019, plateaued 2020–2024, then surged sharply in 2025
• Most reports involved men in their 20s and 30s, but incidents among those aged 40–59 are rising

What they say

"We are experiencing a marked increase in kratom-associated products being sold in the U.S. market," said UVA Health's Dr. Chris Holstege, director of the Blue Ridge Poison Center. "We want the public to be aware that these products contain chemicals of varying concentrations... that have complex pharmacological actions and can cause drug interactions and adverse consequences in humans."

Bottom line

Kratom-related hospitalizations and poison center reports hit record highs in 2025, driven by growing availability and increasingly potent product formulations — underscoring an urgent need for better regulation and public education.