Kratom Drug Fact Sheet - DOJ/DEA

Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia, whose leaves contain psychoactive compounds (mitragynine and 7-hydroxymytragynine) that produce stimulant effects at low doses and sedative effects at high doses. It is commonly consumed by oral ingestion, smoking, brewing as tea, or chewing the leaves, and its abuse has increased in the U.S. Kratom can lead to addiction, psychotic symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, confusion), and various physical effects such as nausea, itching, sweating, and more severe conditions like hepatotoxicity and seizures. While not controlled under the Controlled Substances Act, some states regulate or prohibit its use, and the DEA has classified it as a Drug and Chemical of Concern. The FDA has not approved kratom for medical use.