Why Is Kratom Controversial?
Despite its growing popularity in the United States, Kratom remains highly controversial, with many experts questioning its effectiveness. Keep reading to find out why.
Safety Concerns
Kratom’s psychoactive alkaloid compounds interact with opioid receptors in the brain, and in varying doses, can produce stimulant or narcotic-like effects and lead to addiction. Long-term use can also cause dependency, which, when use stops, can cause withdrawal symptoms that range from mild to life-threatening, depending on dosage and frequency of use.
Kratom use, especially over longer periods of time, can have harmful effects on your body. Common side effects include confusion, seizures, nausea, high blood pressure, and weight loss. It can also cause neurological changes, like hallucinations, depression, and dizziness. Kratom products have also been reported to contain toxins, like heavy metals such as lead, and dangerous bacterias, like salmonella. In fact, the FDA has linked more than 35 deaths to improperly handled Kratom products tainted with salmonella. Long-term use has also been associated with impairment to reward circuitry in the brain, and organ toxicity, especially when used in combination with other substances. While deaths from Kratom use alone are less common, it has been implicated in countless polyintoxication overdoses, meaning its use in combination with other drugs can further amplify the risk of overdose, or death. According to the Washington Post, Kratom was listed as a contributing factor to death in over 4,000 postmortem analyses between 2020 and 2022.
Lack of Regulation
Lack of uniform FDA oversight over Kratom is also causing concern over what these plant products may contain. Kratom’s sale is not restricted or regulated by the Controlled Substances Act. At the moment, six states have banned the sale of Kratom entirely in their jurisdictions, but it remains legal to sell, possess, and use elsewhere in the U.S. As a result of Kratom’s uncertain status, the plant is sold in a variety of different forms and concentrations that often lead to complications. Public health officials have grown concerned because many of the products contain Kratom in concentrations significantly higher than levels found in the unprocessed leaves picked directly from the tree. Additionally, lack of oversight means Kratom products are quite often improperly labeled, displaying wrong concentrations or amounts, or not even claiming to the plant in the first place. While Kratom suppliers are facing an increasing volume of wrongful death lawsuits, the drug is still easily purchasable in a variety of locations, including specialty shops, vape stores, gas stations, and the internet.
Another significant area of concern with Kratom is misleading marketing tactics, as the plant products are often advertised as having certain health benefits despite the fact that no Kratom product has been approved for medical or supplemental use by the FDA. Recently, the FDA has begun issuing warnings to companies marketing Kratom products for using misleading, or outright false, claims to sell their products. “Despite our warnings that no kratom product is safe, we continue to find companies selling kratom and doing so with deceptive medical claims for which there’s no reliable scientific proof to support their use,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. Certain claims that the FDA has cited include: “It is said, that kratom is very effective against cancer,” or “Kratom is also said to have elements that control blood sugar level in the body for diabetic patients.” None of these claims have any scientific backing.
Lack of Research
There is a paucity of research concerning the purported benefits of Kratom consumption, pointing to its potential danger. Because so few studies have been conducted examining the effects of Kratom use and its dangers, its clinical implications are limited and quite uncertain, and more controlled studies are needed. At the moment, no conclusions can be drawn about Kratom’s apparent benefits, and a guarantee of the products’ safety is not possible. The FDA continues to issue warnings about product contamination, addictive potential, and health risks from use. When in doubt, avoid using Kratom.