News · 2026-03-06
Tennessee TBI Warns Legislators: Kratom Overdoses May Not Fully Respond to Narcan
Source: NewsChannel 9 (WTVC)
Why it matters
If kratom overdoses do not fully respond to naloxone (Narcan), first responders and emergency departments need updated protocols. This testimony signals that standard opioid overdose management may be inadequate when kratom — especially kratom mixed with other substances — is involved.
The big picture
As Tennessee advances HB1649, named "Matthew Davenport's Law," which would make kratom possession a misdemeanor and its sale a felony, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation testified before a House subcommittee on kratom's unique pharmacological properties. The testimony has broader implications for emergency medicine and overdose response nationwide, not just in Tennessee.
Key findings
- Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) told lawmakers that kratom overdoses "may be less responsive to Naloxone" than standard opioid overdoses
- Experts explain that kratom alkaloids bind to opioid receptors but also to alpha-adrenergic, serotonergic, and other receptors — Narcan only reverses the opioid component
- HB1649 would classify kratom possession as a Class A misdemeanor; manufacturing or sale as Class C and B felonies
- The bill honors Matthew Davenport, 27, who died after kratom interacted with his prescription medications
- Business owners and chronic pain patients testified against an outright ban, urging regulation over prohibition
- Senate and House Judiciary Committee hearings are scheduled for March 9 and March 11
What they say
"When someone does overdose on kratom, it's not going to completely reverse that overdose, because it's only taken care of that part that's on the opioid receptor," said Debra Clark Morgan, Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist with the Hamilton County Coalition.
Bottom line
**Tennessee law enforcement testified that Narcan may not fully reverse kratom overdoses because kratom binds multiple receptor types — a critical warning for emergency responders as the state's total kratom ban moves forward.**