Sharp Increase in Kratom Poison Calls
A new analysis from the University of Virginia shows that calls about kratom exposure to poison centers have jumped dramatically. From 2015 to 2025, the number of reports grew by more than twelve‑fold.
Record Numbers in 2025
In 2025, poison centers recorded 3,434 kratom cases. That compares with just 258 cases in 2015. Researchers say the surge is linked to easier access and stronger new products.
More Hospital Stays and Deaths
Hospitalizations for kratom alone rose over eleven hundred percent, from 43 patients in 2015 to 538 in 2025. When kratom was mixed with other drugs, hospital stays jumped nearly thirteen hundred percent, from 40 to 549.
During the ten‑year period, 233 deaths involved kratom. Most (184) also involved other substances.
What Is Kratom?
Kratom comes from the leaves of a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. People have traditionally chewed the leaves, made tea, or crushed them for pain relief and mood boost. The plant can act as a stimulant that raises energy, or as a sedative that calms anxiety.
Some users also turn to kratom to help with opioid withdrawal, though its true effectiveness is still unclear.
Unregulated Products Pose Risks
In the U.S., kratom is sold as pills, extracts, and other forms that are often far stronger than natural leaves. These products are not regulated, so buyers cannot know exactly what they contain. Kratom has also been linked to possible liver damage.
Who Is Using Kratom?
Between 2015 and 2025, more than 14,400 kratom exposures were reported. Most cases involved men in their 20s and 30s, but the number of reports from people aged 40‑59 also grew sharply.
Why Experts Are Worried
In 2025, sixty percent of cases that involved kratom with other substances led to serious medical outcomes, and about half required hospitalization.
Experts are urging closer monitoring of kratom products and better public education. They stress that using kratom—especially with alcohol, medications, or illegal drugs—can cause severe, even fatal, health problems.
“We see far more kratom products on the market, and many contain chemicals like mitragynine and 7‑hydroxymitragynine that can interact dangerously with other drugs,” said a UVA poison specialist.