The Growing Toll of America's Booming Kratom Industry

10 Sep 2024 (8 days ago)

Intro

On April 5th, 2022, Jordan McKibben died, and the cause of death was determined to be kratom.
While kratom-related deaths are relatively low compared to opioid-related deaths, kratom use has increased significantly in the past decade.
Kratom is a billion-dollar industry that is expanding rapidly, making it difficult for consumers and regulators to stay informed about the changing landscape of products and safety concerns.

Christopher McCurty, an expert on kratom, initially researched kratom as a potential painkiller but found it to be weak compared to opioids.
Kratom contains approximately 50 alkaloids, with mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine being the primary psychoactive compounds.
Research is being conducted on mitragynine's potential to treat pain and opioid addiction, particularly due to the ongoing opioid crisis.

Kratom products have expanded beyond traditional forms to include edibles, drinks, and gummies.
Extracts and concentrates of kratom are becoming increasingly popular and potent, with some marketed as containing a single alkaloid.
The demand for stronger kratom products is driven by consumer desire for a more intense euphoric effect, leading to concerns about safety and dosage.

One man shares that he drank alcohol and took pills morning, noon, and night, but after discovering Feel Free drinks, he felt good for hours and didn't think about alcohol or pills.
Another man states that he initially used kratom as a way to stop taking painkillers and as a crutch when he felt overwhelmed, but he became addicted.
A woman expresses that she felt misled by the marketing of kratom, particularly Feel Free, which she initially believed to be an energy drink but later realized was addictive.

A lawsuit was filed against Botanic Tonics in 2023 by a recovering alcoholic who claimed to have been hospitalized after consuming ten of their drinks daily, alleging that the company failed to disclose that kratom was the main ingredient.
The FDA issued a warning to consumers against ingesting OPMS Black Liquid kratom product in July, citing its link to serious adverse health effects, including death.
Data from the CDC indicates a significant increase in kratom-involved overdoses in the US, rising from 152 in a period of one and a half years in 2017 to at least 4,100 deaths between 2020 and 2022.

The kratom industry is seeing an increase in the production of highly concentrated products.
Some kratom manufacturers are focusing on creating products that induce stronger effects, aiming to enhance the sense of well-being associated with consumption.
This pursuit of heightened potency in kratom products raises concerns about potential addiction, as stronger effects can lead to increased cravings and dependence.

7-hydroxymitragynine (7oh), a metabolite of mitragynine, is significantly more potent and addictive than mitragynine alone.
7oh has a stronger binding affinity to opioid receptors in the brain than mitragynine, leading to a more potent effect.
Some companies are producing and selling products that contain isolated 7oh, marketing them as alternatives to prescription opioids.

Seven states and Washington D.C. have legalized 7-hydroxymitragynine, allowing its sale alongside kratom products.
While traditional kratom products in Southeast Asia utilize kratom leaves, products in the United States vary in concentration and lack regulation.
There is a need to establish scientific safety and provide adequate consumer information regarding the potential dangers of kratom products.

The law firm MCT Law has won two judgments against kratom companies for selling kratom resulting in death.
The two wrongful death lawsuits that MCT Law is handling both occurred in Kitsap County, Washington.
MCT Law won one of the cases, which involved the death of Patrick Coin, with a $2.5 million award and is currently litigating the death of Jordan McKibbon.

There is a debate surrounding kratom, with some claiming it is safe and others claiming it is dangerous, while scientists advocate for a balanced, research-driven approach to understanding its effects and establishing appropriate regulations.
Further research on kratom is necessary, particularly regarding its potential as a treatment for opiate addiction, and any extracts should have clear labeling and limitations on alkaloid content.
Kratom's potency necessitates its regulation as a strong drug, emphasizing the need for warnings and potentially restricting its over-the-counter availability to prevent further tragedies.