The FDA and Lane County Public Health are urging people not to use Kratom, a botanical supplement sold in stop n shops and dispensaries.
Kratom is a plant that grows in Southeast Asia, and is advertised for its stimulant effects in low doses and sedative effects in high doses. However, the product has not been studied in the United States. On November 14th the Federal Drug Administration issued a strong warningto consumers to stay away from the product. Dr. Patrick Luedtke is Lane County’s Chief Health Officer.
“It’s quite concerning to the medical community that there is a product out there that could be addictive, could be contaminated, and is not very well regulated.”
Luedtke says that users report using the product to get off of opiates. Health officials are also concerned because Kratom is not age regulated, so minors can get access to it.
The FDA says 36 deaths in the US have been linked to products containing the substance.