U.S. Kratom Poison Reports Jump Over 6,500% in Recent Study

Research published in the journal Addiction reveals a dramatic rise in kratom-related poison center reports across the United States, jumping from 19 cases in 2010 to 1,242 in 2023—a surge of more than 6,500%. The number of severe medical outcomes, which include life-threatening conditions, permanent disability, or death, grew from zero to 158 during the same period. The analysis highlighted that states with outright bans on kratom consistently recorded lower exposure rates and fewer serious cases compared with states that allow consumer-level sales or have no specific rules.

Senior author Ryan Feldman noted that kratom, an unscheduled psychoactive plant, can trigger seizures, irregular heart rhythms, liver damage and breathing difficulties, and that its interaction with other substances may amplify risks. Hospital admission rates were high, with nearly one in seven single-substance kratom exposures requiring inpatient care and one in sixteen needing intensive care. The findings arrive as lawmakers nationwide debate regulatory approaches amid limited high-quality evidence on kratom’s safety.