US Kratom Use Surges 65-Fold in 13 Years
Kratom use in the US has surged dramatically, with reported exposures increasing from 19 in 2010 to 1242 in 2023. States that have banned kratom experienced lower rates of severe medical outcomes compared to those with fewer regulations. The findings highlight the need for more research to inform legislative decisions regarding kratom use and safety.
- ▪Kratom exposures reported to US poison centers increased from 19 in 2010 to 1242 in 2023.
- ▪Severe medical outcomes associated with kratom use rose significantly, with 158 cases reported in 2023.
- ▪States that banned kratom had lower rates of exposures and severe outcomes compared to states with fewer regulations.
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| Original publisher | Medscape |
| Canonical URL | https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/us-kratom-use-surges-65-fold-13-years-2026a1000fx2?src=rss |
| Publication time | Mon, 18 May 2026 04:24:34 EDT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-18T08:34:56.132Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-18T08:34:56.132Z |
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TOPLINE:Kratom (a plant-derived psychoactive substance) exposures reported to US poison centers increased from 19 in 2010 to 1242 in 2023, new research showed. However, states that banned kratom had significantly lower rates of exposures and severe medical outcomes compared with states with the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) or no regulation.METHODOLOGY:A retrospective observational study included data for nearly 9000 kratom-related exposures reported between 2010 and 2023 to the National Poison Data System.Overall, 61% of the cases involved single-substance exposure; 91% occurred in adults, and 69% occurred in men.US states were classified by kratom regulatory status into four categories: unrestricted (no regulations), KCPA, local restrictions (KCPA in at least one county but no…
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