Though kratom’s popularity has only recently exploded in the United States, this plant is not new. Kratom comes from the Mitragyna speciosa plant, an evergreen tree that is part of the coffee family and is native to Southeast Asia. People have been using kratom leaves for hundreds of years as an herbal supplement, but Western countries have only recently discovered its benefits. 

Since becoming more popular in the United States, researchers are actively working towards finding concrete answers regarding kratom’s health benefits, but the research is ongoing. According to the American Kratom Association, since 2018, there have been more than 450 scientific publications focusing on kratom safety, benefits, and abuse potential.

Kratom Myths Debunked

If you’re just starting your kratom research, you likely find it challenging to filter through all the information available—especially on the internet! Depending on the source, you may even find contradictory answers to your burning questions about kratom. If you’ve ever been curious about kratom but didn’t know where to start or who to trust, you’re in the right place. Follow along as we debunk some of the most common kratom myths.

Myth: Kratom is Illegal in the United States

If you are reading outdated information, you might find it easy to believe the kratom myth that it is illegal in the United States. Though some states (Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin) have enacted bans on kratom, most states do not currently have legislation prohibiting kratom. 

On the contrary, a federal bill has been introduced in the House and Senate to better regulate the production and sale of kratom in the U.S. The proposed bill would establish controls and best practices related to manufacturing and labeling in addition to banning adulteration and limiting anything that artificially elevates the amount of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine in kratom products.

Myth: Kratom Manufacturing and Production is Unregulated

As stated above, the federal government is working on a Kratom Consumer Protection Act bill to help regulate the production of kratom, but many states already have their own versions of this bill in place. Eleven states have passed a KCPA bill: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Florida, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Utah, and West Virginia. 

According to the American Kratom Association, depending on the state, most bills require the following: 

  • Registration of products and vendors
  • Labeling that includes distributing vendor information and disclosure that the product contains kratom
  • Product testing similar to food product testing, as well as testing for adulterations and Boosted levels of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine
  • Prohibits health claims
  • Minimum age of purchase

Myth: Kratom Use is Dangerous and Harmful

Of all the kratom myths, this one is the most misleading. Although the primary active compounds in kratom, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, act on opioid receptors in the brain, so do chocolate, coffee, and exercise. Unlike typical opioid drugs, kratom lacks the dangerous risks of addiction or life-threatening respiratory depression. Kratom does pose the possibility for dependence if taken in high doses, but the level of dependence could be comparable to one’s dependence on caffeine. 

According to a Johns Hopkins Medicine user survey, researchers suggest that kratom likely has a lower rate of harm than prescription opioids for treating pain, anxiety, depression and addiction. Though kratom has not been tested for its efficacy in treating these health conditions, many users use kratom for these purposes.

Additionally, in research conducted by the CDC, scientists analyzed data from the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) from 27 states over 18 months and found 152 or 0.56% of 27,338 overdose deaths mentioned kratom in their postmortem toxicology reports. Of these deaths, most decedents also tested for other substances, most commonly fentanyl, heroin, benzodiazepines, prescription opioids, and cocaine. Based on this research, overdose due to kratom is extremely low.  

As with any dietary, herbal, or drug-like substance, you should seek advice from a medical professional before taking kratom.

Myth: Kratom is a Synthetic Drug

This kratom myth is simple to bust—kratom is a naturally occurring plant and is in no way a synthetic drug. Kratom produced and sold in the United States is not pure kratom leaf, and it requires some processing, including drying and aging, but it is not synthetic in the sense that it is made in a lab. 

Myth: All Kratom Sources Sell the Same Product

Potential users of kratom will need to be vigilant about where they source their kratom from, as not all distributors and vendors undergo the same testing and quality-control checks. If you live in a state that has yet to pass a KCPA Bill, we recommend doing extra research. At the Kratom Store, you can rest assured that the products you receive are not only affordable but also high-quality. 

Final Thoughts

Learning about kratom on the internet can require advanced skills in digital media literacy, as is the case with most research conducted on the Internet. To find the most accurate information and filter through kratom myths, it is best to stick with scientific and evidence-based facts.

For a trusted source of kratom information and products, visit the Kratom Store and leave your kratom myth-busting days behind.