The Growing Toll of America’s $1 Billion Kratom Industry
Supplements based on the controversial herbal extract are everywhere. But medical experts warn of their addictive and sometimes dangerous nature.
Derived from the leaves of a tropical tree indigenous to Southeast Asia, the US Drug Enforcement Agency says kratom can be a stimulant in low doses and a sedative in high doses.
Photograph: Bloomberg
Over the past decade, a herbal supplement called kratom has been growing in popularity across America. Derived from the leaves of a tropical tree indigenous to Southeast Asia, the US Drug Enforcement Agency says it can be a stimulant in low doses and a sedative in high doses. The DEA also says its use—smoked, brewed or more commonly in gel capsules, concentrated shots and even gummies—can lead to addiction.
But kratom exists in a regulatory netherworld. The Food and Drug Administration warns against using it but it remains legal in most states. Products are available everywhere, from smoke shops to convenience stores to the internet. The industry touts it as a “wellness” pick-me-up and, more importantly, a pathway out of addiction. But lawsuits alleging hospitalizations and deaths tied to its use are growing—as is a complex fight over regulation involving opponents, industry lobbyists and companies selling potent new derivatives. In this mini-documentary, Bloomberg Originals explains the rise of kratom and the toll it has taken on some users and their families.