kratom

Drinks spiked with kratom and tianeptine—an opioid that can lead to serious health problems and fatal overdoses—are displayed like packs of gum at gas stations and head shops, engendering trust in consumers who may not know they’re ingesting potentially addictive substances.

Companies that produce legal weed, mushrooms, kratom, or any of the plethora of bodega drugs could easily disband and rebrand—or just stop responding to complaints—if they’re found to be delivering an inferior or dangerous product.

He clarified that kratom can be useful to people struggling with substance use getting off other drugs, and that he would like to see increased regulations to ensure leaf-based, pure products are in the market.

Anecdotal experiences with kratom cover all ends of the spectrum, with some saying it saved their life and others blaming it for the deaths of loved ones.

Yet some deaths involving kratom may have occurred when a person consumed one of its derivatives, were on other medications that could have influenced their tolerance, or when kratom was mixed with other drugs.