Kratom: Herb Sold in Gas Stations Concerns U.S. Authorities
The kratom, a herb with effects similar to opioids, is freely sold in gas stations and convenience stores in the U.S., causing alarm after student deaths. In Brazil, Anvisa recommended its prohibition.
Kratom, an herb with similar effects to opioids, has gained popularity in the Estados Unidos over the last decade and is usually bought without a prescription and consumed in tablet or liquid form. Known as the "heroine of gas stations," the substance worries U.S. authorities after it was found in the possession of two students at the University of Mississippi who died.
Although the deaths have not been attributed to kratom, authorities are now issuing warnings about its consumption. The herb, native to Southeast Asia, is sold freely in convenience stores, gas stations and cigarros eletrônicos stores, without federal regulation.
What is Kratom and where does it come from?
Kratom is a tree native to Southeast Asia, found in countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Its leaves have been used for centuries for their stimulating properties, being ground and consumed as tea.
With increasing popularity worldwide, the product entered the American market as a supplement around 2016. “That’s where the problems really started,” said Shane Speights, dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine at the New York Institute of Technology at Arkansas State University.
Sales without control and health risks
In Estados Unidos, kratom is sold primarily in highly concentrated forms, whether in tablets, powder or liquid, according to Speights. It's also very easy to find. It is sold in convenience stores, gas stations and cigarros eletrônicos stores.
In addition, due to its classification as a supplement, kratom products are not regulated by the U.S. government. “There’s no way to know exactly what you’re buying,” Speight said. "You can create something in your basement, market it as a supplement, and no one will check what's inside."
Stimulant and opioid effects
Kratom is often marketed as a safe and natural herbal supplement that helps in controlling pain, anxiety, and depression. At lower doses, its stimulating properties create a "type of euphoric feeling similar to that of caffeine," Speights explained.
Due to its similar effects to opioids, it has also been used to combat addiction to opioids such as fentanyl. These properties stem from the way the plant’s compounds — such as 7-hydroxymitraginine — activate various hormones, including dopamine.
User Report: Chronic Pain Relief
Jeffrey Deaver, a 58-year-old retired lumberjack from Washington state, has been taking kratom for four years to alleviate severe chronic pain in the hip and knee. He discovered the herbal product when he could not find relief with the doctors and while waiting for surgeries.
Scared at first, he “started with a low dose,” but then increased the dosage until his pain disappeared. “It was like a miracle,” Deaver said. "I was able to sleep. I managed to work."
Regulation in Brazil and in the world
For years, opponents of kratom have been pushing for its prohibition, and in some countries, such as the UK, it is illegal. But kratom is not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is legal in some states, including Mississippi.
In Brazil, the substance is also not regulated by the National Agency of Vigilância Sanitária (Anvisa). A technical note from 2023 recommended to include kratom in the list of prohibited plants.
At low doses, it has stimulating effects similar to cocaine, and can be used to fight fatigue during long working hours. At high doses, kratom exhibits opioid-type effects, including analgesia, delayed gastric emptying, withdrawal symptoms, among others," the note says.
Alert after student deaths
This week, researchers found packets of kratom in the possession of two University of Mississippi students who died. Although the deaths have not been attributed to kratom, authorities are now issuing warnings about its consumption.
The case has rekindled the debate about the safety of the substance, which remains widely available in the US. Meanwhile, in Brazil, the recommendation of Anvisa has not yet been implemented, leaving the product in a regulatory grey zone.
For more information on health and substance regulation, continue to follow the Boca no Trombone Portal.
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