Kratom Exposures to Poison Centers Surge 1,200% Since 2015; Report Highlights Rise of High-Potency Products

Why it matters

Poison control data reveal a dramatic surge in kratom-related calls, hospitalizations, and serious outcomes, coinciding with the emergence of high-potency 7-OH products. This CDC-published surveillance data is critical for understanding the public health trajectory of kratom and kratom-derived products.

The big picture

From 2015 to 2025, calls to U.S. poison centers for kratom exposure increased from 258 to 3,434—a 1,200% increase. Hospitalizations for single-substance kratom reports increased 1,200% (43 to 538), and serious outcomes increased 1,100%. Nearly 38% of kratom exposure reports involved multiple substances, particularly opioids (16%), benzodiazepines (15%), and alcohol (22%). The surge correlates precisely with the emergence of semisynthetic 7-OH products.

Key findings

• 3,434 kratom exposure calls reported to poison centers in 2025 alone
• Hospitalizations increased from 43 (2015) to 538 (2025) for single-substance exposure
• Serious medical outcomes (seizures, cardiac events, respiratory distress) increased from 76 to 919
• Nearly 233 kratom-associated deaths were identified; 80% involved multiple substances, 62% involved opioids
• 7-OH products are increasingly marketed as high-potency alternatives to whole-leaf kratom
• Men accounted for 71% of single-substance and 76% of multi-substance reports
• 23% of multi-substance cases and 6% of single-substance cases involved suspected suicide attempts

What they say

"Kratom-related adverse effects are increasing in number and complexity in the United States. Increasing use, the availability of high-potency kratom and frequent multiple-substance exposure reports contribute to hospitalizations from physical as well as psychiatric causes. As FDA moves to regulate 7-hydroxymitragynine but not whole-leaf kratom products, surveillance should distinguish product types to assess risks." — Eleanor Blair Towers, University of Virginia

Bottom line

Poison center calls and hospitalizations for kratom have surged 1,200% since 2015, driven primarily by high-potency 7-OH products and polysubstance use; surveillance must distinguish product types to assess specific risks.