Summary
Calls to U.S. poison centers about kratom jumped by over 1,200% between 2015 and 2025, based on a report by the CDC. The report linked kratom to 233 deaths over ten years, with the majority involving other substances like opioids. Kratom is widely available but not officially regulated as a drug or dietary supplement in the U.S.
Key Facts
- Kratom-related poison center calls increased from 258 in 2015 to 3,434 in 2025, rising over 1,200%.
- There were 233 deaths related to kratom in a ten-year period, 79% of which involved other substances.
- Opioids were involved in 62% of kratom-related fatalities.
- Hospitalizations due to kratom alone rose from 43 in 2015 to 538 in 2025.
- Most affected individuals were males aged 20-39, with more cases in adults aged 40-59 by 2025.
- Kratom includes psychoactive components that affect the brain, similar to opioids.
- The FDA does not recognize kratom as a legal drug or dietary supplement in the U.S.
