In the year 2021, nearly 2 million individuals in the United States were reported to have utilized the herbal supplement Kratom, according to information provided by the Food and Drug Administration.
The primary purposes for its usage were to address issues such as pain management, anxiety relief, and assistance with opioid withdrawal.
Despite its popularity for these reasons, Kratom has been associated with a range of concerns, including addiction, incidents of seizures, and, notably, fatalities, as exemplified by the case of Dustin Hernandez.
The circumstances surrounding Hernandez’s death were captured on security footage, portraying the distressing sequence of events leading to his demise.
The footage documented him collapsing and subsequently experiencing a seizure, ultimately resulting in his death.
Following this tragic incident, the medical examiner conducted toxicology testing, attributing the cause of death to the “toxic effects of mitragynine,” a substance commonly present in Kratom products.
In light of these events, Dusti Young, the sister of Dustin Hernandez, disclosed that her brother had been using Kratom as a means to manage and alleviate his anxiety.
FDA Issues Warnings on Kratom Despite Its Popularity as a Holistic Remedy
Kratom, often promoted as a holistic remedy, enjoys widespread availability through online platforms and gas stations.
Despite its popularity, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified Kratom as an addictive substance, issuing warnings against its use due to the “risk of serious adverse effects.”
Since 2014, the FDA has been actively pursuing measures to prevent the importation of Kratom into the country.
Acknowledging the existence of numerous illicit Kratom products, the American Kratom Association concedes that only a small fraction, approximately “three dozen” out of around 8,000 entities in the Kratom industry, are considered legitimate.
Mac Haddow, the association’s spokesperson, attributes this situation to the FDA’s stance, asserting that instead of opting for an outright ban, the FDA should engage in regulatory efforts to safeguard consumers.
In response to these challenges, the American Kratom Association is advocating for the implementation of the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, which it defines as a best practices standard.
As of now, versions of this act have been successfully enacted at the state level in 11 states.
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