Kratom, a highly addictive substance, is not allowed to be sold legally in Los Angeles, but it still finds its way into gas stations and other stores throughout the county. Kratom is an unapproved opioid by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meaning products that contain kratom have not met FDA standards and are illegal for retail as a prescription or over-the-counter drug. But kratom products avoid legal scrutiny by being marketed as wellness supplements, not as medications, often with packaging that does not convey the severity of the drug and with brand names such as “Feel Free.” According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), kratom is most commonly used by 17- to 19-year-olds among adolescents. KidsHealth wrote that adolescents sometimes use kratom because they believe it helps them perform better in school, overlooking the possibility that consistent use can lead to addiction.
“Some kids and teens use kratom to stay awake longer or help them focus while studying. Athletes might use it to block pain or have more energy,” KidsHealth reported. “Doctors haven’t found that kratom can help with any conditions, and they say it’s harmful.”
Interim Health Program Head Ari Tuluenga spoke about the effects that labeling drugs such as kratom as “natural” could have on consumers.
“I think there’s a big epidemic right now with certain usage of buzz words,” Tuluenga said. “When people hear ‘natural,’ they think it won’t be harmful.”
Because kratom is unregulated, manufacturers are not responsible for adhering to FDA standards. Thus, the risk of exposure to dangerous bacteria and chemicals like lead is relatively high, according to KidsHealth. Apart from the dangers of how the products are being manufactured, excessive use of kratom poses serious health concerns, such as damaged livers and seizures.
Public Health officials in Los Angeles County are asking shops to pull kratom from their shelves due to an increase in overdoses in the county. Los Angeles County Health Officer Muntu Davis noted the risks of taking such an addictive substance, as well as the consequences that could arise from having it so easily accessible in stores.
“Mixing or using it with alcohol, prescription drugs or illicit substances can significantly slow breathing and lead to death,” Davis said. “Because these are unregulated products, their strength is unpredictable, making accidental overdose more likely. The safest choice is to avoid all 7-OH [a compound of the kratom plant] products.”
