MMWR
Kratom poisoning cases surge nationwide: CDC report
Clinical takeaway: Ask specifically about kratom use when evaluating patients with unexplained toxidromes, substance use concerns, or withdrawal symptoms, and counsel patients that kratom is not FDA-approved, carries overdose and interaction risks, and should prompt poison center consultation for suspected exposures.
Poison control centers across the U.S. have documented a staggering 1200% increase in kratom-related calls from 2015 to 2025, according to new data from the National Poison Data System published in MMWR. The herbal supplement, marketed as a natural pain reliever and opioid alternative, has prompted growing safety concerns among toxicologists and healthcare providers.
The analysis reveals escalating reports of adverse events including nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and more serious complications such as seizures and respiratory depression. Many cases involved patients who combined kratom with other substances or exceeded recommended dosages found on product labels.
Kratom products remain widely available online and in specialty stores despite regulatory uncertainty. The supplement's active compounds, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, can produce both stimulant and opioid-like effects depending on dosage.
Source:
Towers EB, et al. (2026, March 26). MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. Increases in Kratom-Related Reports to Poison Centers — National Poison Data System, United States, 2015–2025. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/75/wr/mm7511a1.htm
