Research · 2026-08-31
The State Files: What 57 FOIA Records Actually Show About Kratom-Associated Deaths
Source: Open Truth Project
Why it matters
A FOIA dataset of 57 state death records associated with kratom — published by the Open Truth Project — shows that 30 records never name kratom as cause of death, and only 7 are classified as kratom-only. Natural disease is listed as the primary factor in 14.
The big picture
The Open Truth Project published and made downloadable a dataset of 57 state death records flagged as kratom-associated. The data is available for public review at open-truth.org as a CSV file. The breakdown of primary factors challenges the single-substance framing that dominates public testimony.
Key findings
- 57 total records in the FOIA dataset (updated May 2026).
- Never names kratom as cause of death: 30 records (53%).
- Combined substances or unclear setting: 20 records.
- Kratom-only classification: 7 records (12%).
- Natural disease as primary factor: 14 records.
- Injury and violence as primary factor: 9 records.
- Other drugs as primary factor: 7 records.
- Additional flags: TOX FLAG PRESENT (toxicology concerns noted); HIGH MITRAGYNINE (elevated concentration).
- The dataset is downloadable as CSV. An interactive evidence grid is available on the site.
What they say
"The claim is simple. The files are not." — Open Truth Project
Bottom line
The most common finding in 57 FOIA records is that kratom either does not appear as cause of death or appears alongside multiple other contributing factors. A dataset this size, with this breakdown, is not evidence for a natural-leaf prohibition.