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What is kratom, the 'gas station heroin' alarming officials in the US?
health.yahoo.com • • nation
Key Points:
- Jeffrey Deaver, a retired timber cutter from Washington, has used kratom for four years to manage severe chronic pain, describing it as a "miracle" that allowed him to function and sleep better.
- Kratom is a Southeast Asian herb with opioid-like effects, popular in the US as an unregulated supplement sold in various forms, but its safety and contents are not federally overseen.
- While marketed for pain relief and anxiety, kratom poses risks including addiction, withdrawal, hallucinations, CNS depression, and potentially fatal respiratory failure, especially at high doses.
- Kratom is banned in 11 US states and several countries, including the UK and Malaysia, but remains legal and widely available in others, leading to ongoing debates and regulatory challenges.
- Recent incidents involving kratom in the possession of deceased individuals have prompted warnings, highlighting concerns from health officials and advocacy groups about its unregulated status and potential dangers.
