In September of 2025, the United States Food and Drug Administration released a report stating that although kratom is available online and in brick-and-mortar stores, that the FDA was warning the public against the use of kratom for medical treatment and declaring that kratom is not appropriate for uses as a dietary supplement. The report also highlighted the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which estimated that 1.7 million Americans aged 12 and older used kratom that year. Another 2021 study in the journal of Addiction found that kratom users were more likely to be young, male, and a student. Some parents and experts are also issuing warnings about kratom by sharing their stories, advocating for change, and touting the need for research.
An Expert’s Take On Kratom
Drew Dutton is a mental health professional, a national consultant, and the President and CEO of Phoenix House Texas, a treatment center for substance use disorders among young adults. Dutton said that users of kratom may report feeling energized, alert, euphoric and experience pain-relieving effects. However, Dutton commented, “Unlike prescription opioids, it has very little research or regulation in place to confirm safety, especially in the U.S. As of today, it is not considered safe or understood by any quality or comprehensive research.”
Dutton further explained that kratom’s psychoactive compounds bind to the same opioid receptors in the brain as fentanyl, and that some users have shown tolerance, withdrawal, and craving, which suggest that kratom can be addictive. When commenting about the claims that kratom is safe because it’s natural, Dutton responded, “but opium, cocaine, and arsenic are all natural too, and none are safe.”
Parents Share Their Stories About Kratom
Kayemille Goss has lived in Texas for over 30 years. Earlier this year, her 22-yeard-old son, Kaden, unexpectedly passed away. She commented, “Losing a child is every parent’s worst nightmare. It is more horrific and devastating than you can possibly imagine.”
According to Goss, on the night of his passing, Kaden and some friends stopped at a vape shop, after having hamburgers and beer, and purchased a bottle of kratom tablets. Goss said that her son did not wake up the following morning, and a toxicology report indicated that kratom, and a synthetic additive 7-Hydroxymitragynine, was responsible for the death.
Goss commented, “According to the medical examiner’s office, Kratom is 10-13 times stronger than morphine and more addictive than heroin.” She said that she did not know anything about kratom before her son’s passing, and that’s she’s worried because kratom is often advertised as a natural product that promotes relaxation and eases anxiety and pain. Goss further stated alarm because kratom is readily availability and can come in tablets, capsules, drops, powder form, and even in ready to consume drinks sold at local gas stations. Goss also stated a desire to revoke The Kratom Protection Act. According to a 2023 report on Congress.gov, this act prohibits the FDA from regulating kratom products in a way that’s more restrictive in how it regulates food or dietary supplements. However, Goss said, “Kratom should be banned in our state and our nation. We do not need stronger regulations on this product; it needs to be gone.
Parents Advocating For Change About Kratom
Patti Wheeler described herself as an advocate for kratom awareness. In 2025, People.com featured a story about how her son, Wyatt, died of a kratom overdose at age 27. When speaking about her son, Wheeler stated, “He was kind, thoughtful, and compassionate…Losing him to something you can buy off a gas station shelf is utterly devastating and incomprehensible.” Wheeler argued that education about kratom is critical, and that anyone taking the substance should understand the possible risk associated with it. She further argued, “If regulations don’t change, people will keep dying. It’s that simple. We need strict labeling requirements, clear dosage information, real testing, and a lot more research.”
As highlighted in the story on People.com, after Wyatt’s death in 2022, Wheeler collaborated with producer Joanne Rubino and directors Jason and Jamie Neese for the documentary Kratom: Side Effect May Include. The directors said that they were drawn to the material due to the thought that something found in a gas station, and next to candy, could result in death. Rubino claimed that everyone will benefit from watching the documentary, and that more needs to be done to determine how and if kratom in some forms can be used safely and without side effects. Rubino said, “The stories told and the expert insight shared in this film coupled with cinematic lens, powerful message, music and compelling narrative will hopefully do it’s job and make a difference. Wyatt and every other lost soul deserves as much.”
According to a 2024 report on MarketResearchFuture.com, by 2035, the market valuation for Kratom is anticipated to reach $22.5 billion due to robust demand. Members of kratom’s industry, and others, are likely to argue that there are benefits from the product. However, as outlined by a 2024 report by The Washington Post, there’s evidence that the number of fatal overdoses associated with kratom are increasing. Such evidence highlights the need for more mainstream awareness, especially among young and emerging adults.