Safety · 2026-08-26
Teen Kratom Use Jumped 51% in One Year; Poisonings Up 1,200% Over the Past Decade
Source: Narcotics.com
Why it matters
Federal survey data shows adolescent kratom use growing at a rate that outpaces other substances, and the acceleration coincides with wider retail availability of concentrated 7-OH products. The numbers are intensifying calls for tighter federal regulation of kratom leaf, not just its derivatives.
The big picture
Kratom has long been framed as an adult substance used for pain management or opioid withdrawal. New SAMHSA data challenges that framing. The 51% teen use increase in a single year follows years of declining adolescent drug use overall, making the kratom spike notable to public health officials. Meanwhile, regulators are moving on 7-OH while debate continues over whether to schedule the leaf itself. The FDA publicly concluded kratom contains opioid compounds and warns against its use, but the agency has not sought scheduling of the whole plant since a 2018 proposal was blocked.
Key findings
- 1.85 million Americans aged 12 and older used kratom in 2024, up from 1.63 million in 2023, per SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health
- Adolescent use (ages 12-17) rose 51% in one year, from approximately 43,000 to 65,000 users
- Kratom-related poisonings and hospitalizations increased 1,200% over the past decade per a 2026 CDC MMWR report
- University of Michigan and Texas State University research linked kratom use to cannabis use, preexisting substance use disorders, and serious psychological distress
- DEA in July 2026 moved to temporarily schedule 7-OH and three related compounds as Schedule I, leaving botanical kratom unscheduled
What they say
The FDA states on its website that kratom "contains opioid compounds" and warns Americans against using it, citing risks including liver toxicity, seizures, and substance use disorder — while clarifying that July 2026 DEA scheduling action is "not intended" to regulate natural kratom leaf below specified 7-OH concentrations.
Bottom line
Teen kratom use rose faster than any other tracked substance in 2024, driven in part by gas station and convenience store availability where age verification is inconsistent.