On August 31st, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced its plan to take emergency action and classify kratom as a Schedule I substance. Specifically, the active substances in kratom—mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine—will be outlawed. The DEA says “such action is necessary to avoid an imminent hazard to the public safety.”

As of September 30th, kratom will enter the most restrictive drug category, alongside drugs like heroin, ecstasy, LSD, and marijuana. Schedule I drugs have “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” Kratom has become readily available in recent years from online vendors, cafes, and smoke shops, but possession or sale of the herb will be illegal in just a few weeks.

What is Kratom?

Kratom is an herbal supplement made from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree, which is a part of the coffee family. It’s been used for traditional remedies in southeast Asia for several hundred years, as both a stimulant and a painkiller. At lower doses it can heighten alertness, while higher doses produce opioid-like effects that relieve pain.

But, kratom is not an opioid or opiate. Opioids—such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, and fentanyl—are synthetic substances known as full agonists because they bind to opioid receptors in the brain and activate those receptors to produce pain-relieving effects.

Unlike opioids, kratom is a natural substance known as a partial agonist that only partially binds to and activates the mu opioid receptor in the brain. It creates a milder painkilling effect, similar to that of endorphins released during exercise. For many people, kratom is useful in pain management, increasing energy levels, as well as easing anxiety and depression.

Kratom has also been used in the treatment of opiate addiction. It functions similarly to Buprenorphine (also known as Subutex), which is used in opioid addiction treatment. Buprenorphine is also a partial agonist at the mu opioid receptor, as well as an antagonist at the kappa receptor—which basically means it reduces cravings, lessens physical dependence, and has a ceiling effect at higher doses so a user can’t actually get “high.”

There are thousands of people in the United States who use kratom to treat pain, as well as wean themselves off of opioids. Most often, the plant is ground into a powder or whole leaves are used to brew tea.

Many people with chronic pain prefer kratom over prescription opioid painkillers with intense addictive properties. Other kratom advocates say the herb has provided them physical and psychological relief during opiate withdrawal.

Now, people who have come to rely upon kratom for medicinal purposes face a serious dilemma with the impending DEA ban—which is making some fearful and others outraged.

Why the DEA is Taking Action

Finding kratom in the United States has been relatively easy over the past few years, and it’s proven helpful in many people’s lives. So, why the emergency action?

With any serious health concern, self-treatment has higher risks. Though kratom can provide pain relief and help people break free from opioid dependency, physicians fear it might encourage people to take treatment into their own hands.

It’s still crucial to consult a medical professional during the recovery process. Like other medications for withdrawal or relapse prevention, kratom is not a replacement for a comprehensive treatment approach.

In order to better understand this herb and what role it might play in medicine, we need to build upon existing scientific research. The DEA can move a substance to Schedule I for one to three years, during which time the Department of Health and Human Services will study the substance. The research will try to determine whether or not kratom is a significant public health threat. If not, it will gain its legal status again.

Misunderstanding Kratom

A major concern is how frequently unregulated substances are being adulterated and cut with other drugs, potentially jeopardizing the safety of consumers. Kratom has gained popularity alongside increasing synthetic drug use—like synthetic marijuana, also known as K2 or “spice,” and bath salts like flakka.

Similar to kratom, these synthetic drugs are commonly ordered online. But, there are some major differences. Synthetic drugs they are sold under the guise of ‘research chemicals’ or ‘plant food,’ and you can’t always be sure of what you’re getting. On July 12th of this year, 33 people in a New York neighborhood were hospitalized for suspected K2 overdoses all in the same day. There are also countless horror stories of psychotic behavior that emerges when people use flakka.

Unlike these drugs, kratom is a natural substance made from a plant. Yet, it still tends to get lumped together with synthetic drugs. Even the National Capital Poison Control Center directs you to an article about spice and bath salts when you search for “kratom” on their page.

There’s a great deal of fear as drug overdoses occur in the U.S. with increasing frequency. Because kratom isn’t well-understood yet, it’s also viewed as potentially dangerous. But, studying kratom to understand how it actually affects the body and its potential medical uses might open the door to more treatment options.

Misinformation and Debate



The DEA, of course, must take precautionary action when a threat is perceived. Despite the fact that kratom only partially acts upon opioid receptors in the brain, it is often mistakenly referred to as an opioid and feared to be just as addictive.

Yet, according to the American Kratom Association:

“Kratom is non-habit forming, unless taken in extremely high doses for extended periods of time. If taken in excess, continuously over long periods of time, Kratom consumers may experience dependence, similar to caffeine dependence. There can also be some discomfort if taken daily and use is abruptly discontinued. This can be avoided by taking regular breaks and/or gradually tapering down consumption levels.”

The DEA also reports negative consequences of the drug such as hallucinations and mental fogginess, although kratom advocates firmly disagree. Some doctors have seen dangerous interactions between kratom and other substances, the most extreme of which resulted in seizures.

Like any substance, kratom affects everyone differently. There are people who use kratom as a recreational substance, seeking no direct medical benefits from the herb. With the intent to use extremely high doses over a long period of time, dependence can certainly develop. But, what can’t be denied is that the structure and function of kratom itself is distinctly different from opioids of abuse.

Problems With the Ban

People recovering from opioid addiction may be in jeopardy—for some, kratom functions much like other relapse-prevention medications, such as Suboxone and methadone. But, if people continue to seek out kratom during the DEA ban, they potentially face the same severe legal consequences as a heroin user.

Yes, psychoactive substances in general pose risks to users. But should kratom, a partial opioid agonist, be in the same drug class as heroin, a full agonist three times more powerful than morphine?

Let’s look at the numbers: The DEA cited a CDC study, which counted 660 kratom-related poison control calls—over the course of 5 years (2010-2015). Across the entire world, there have been a total of just 30 deaths associated with kratom. Yet, 52 people in the U.S. overdose every day, generally from heroin and prescription opioid painkillers.

According to kratom users, the effects of the herb aren’t even comparable to those of heroin. They claim they don’t feel “high “or sedated—just better. For many people, kratom becomes a part of their solution to stop using opiates.

Kratom’s Future in the U.S.

In the wake of the DEA ban, a community of kratom advocates has set up a petition to stop it, which already has over 100,000 signatures. For many of these advocates, kratom has provided new hope. Based on users’ successes recovering from opioid addiction and treating pain, they challenge the DEA’s Schedule I classification because they have experienced its medical benefits for themselves.

There is also an existing body of research that’s giving insight into how kratom affects the body. As more information is gathered during this ban, there’s greater chances for consumer safety. Depending on the findings, kratom advocates may see the substance reinstated legally.

But, it’s been historically difficult (or near impossible) to do research on a substance that’s been moved to Schedule I. As a substance of the highest restriction, research options become limited. When positive findings develop, stigma can prevent that research from progressing in fear of “endorsing” a substance.

In reality, there are risks associated with the use of any psychoactive substance. Conversely, such substances also have the potential to serve important medical purposes if understood and used properly. Ultimately, we need objective scientific evidence to inform this debate on both sides.

Polarizing or radicalizing on either side of this debate will only lead us further away from a sustainable solution. This is a chance to meet in the middle—recognizing the need for more conclusive information about kratom, while also respecting existing research and the reported successes of opioid addicts who have been recovering with the help of kratom.

If there is the potential for a less addictive pain killer that can still provides relief, isn’t it at least worth studying thoroughly?