U.S. Military Bans Kratom Use Among Active Duty, Cites Safety and Combat Readiness Concerns

Why it matters

This marks a significant policy shift by a major U.S. institution. Military adoption of kratom restrictions signals growing concern about impairment, addiction potential, and unknown product quality—implications that extend to civilian workplaces and regulatory discussions.

The big picture

Following a September 2025 Department of War memorandum, the military has begun enforcing kratom prohibitions across all active duty branches. The DoW cited FDA warnings, DEA chemical-of-concern classification, respiratory depression risk, and combat readiness threats as justification for the broad ban.

Key findings

• DoW memorandum effective December 2025 prohibits kratom, mitragynine, and 7-OH for all active duty service members
• Military concerns include impairment risk, health consequences (liver damage, seizures), and lack of FDA regulation
• Kratom is widely available in gas stations and vape shops but has no approved medical use
• Military contractors are implementing varying screening policies, from formal drug testing (Beyond New Horizons) to general intoxicant prohibitions
• Civilian DoW employees may follow similar guidance despite lack of formal policy

What they say

AEDC Drug Demand Reduction Manager Tiffany Campbell emphasized the danger: 'You really don't know what you're getting in those supplements. You don't know the potency. You don't know what else is mixed in with it, so you're truly just gambling, rolling the dice on what you might be taking and putting in your body.' The DoW stated: 'Military necessity requires a prohibition of this scope, to spare service members from the serious adverse effects of kratom, mitragynine, and 7-hydroxymitragynine products, and ensure the combat readiness of individual service members and military units.'

Bottom line

**The U.S. military now classifies kratom as a prohibited substance for active duty, joining 6 states and citing combat readiness, health risks, and lack of FDA oversight.**