Marketed as a natural, plant-based wellness product, kratom is sold in gas stations, smoke shops, and online in colorful packaging, from energy-boosting tonics to relaxing seltzers. But for a growing number of Americans, what starts as a seemingly harmless pick-me-up is spiraling into a devastating addiction with life-altering consequences.
Kim Maloney, a 49-year-old mother from Ohio, thought she was trying just another energy drink. In 2021, she picked up a Feel Free tonic, a popular product containing kratom. Soon, she was consuming up to 10 drinks a day. The addiction, she told USA TODAY, cost her everything: her marriage, her home, her car, and nearly half her body weight, which plummeted to 70 pounds. “My blood pressure was like 58 over 49. I was dying,” Maloney recalled. It was only after entering rehab in 2024 that she began to reclaim her life.
Maloney’s story is not unique. A subreddit dedicated to quitting kratom has over 52,000 members, and addiction specialists report a surge in patients seeking help. Many, like Maloney, had no prior history of substance abuse and were lured by marketing that positions kratom as a healthy alternative to alcohol or a simple wellness supplement.
What is Kratom and How Does it Work?
Kratom is an herbal extract from the leaves of the *Mitragyna speciosa* tree, native to Southeast Asia. According to the Mayo Clinic, it has a dual effect: at low doses, it acts as a stimulant, increasing energy and alertness. At higher doses, it produces sedative and opioid-like effects, reducing pain and anxiety.
This is due to its active compounds, primarily mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). These compounds interact with opioid receptors in the brain, similar to morphine. “The shapes of these molecules from kratom are very different than the shapes of things like morphine or fentanyl,” Dr. Lief Fenno, chair of the American Psychiatric Association Council on Addiction Psychiatry, explained to USA TODAY. “And that’s despite the fact that they work in a very similar way.”
This mechanism is the source of both its appeal and its danger. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) lists kratom as a “drug of concern,” and its use is associated with serious health risks, including liver damage, seizures, high blood pressure, psychosis, and respiratory depression. Because the industry is largely unregulated, the potency and purity of products can vary wildly, and some have been found to be contaminated with heavy metals like lead and nickel, or harmful bacteria like salmonella.
Regulatory Action Targets Potent Compound
In response to the growing crisis, federal agencies are taking action. On July 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), alongside Health and Human Services (HHS) officials, announced a formal recommendation to the DEA to classify 7-hydroxymitragynine as a Schedule I illicit substance. This category is reserved for drugs with a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use.
The move specifically targets highly concentrated 7-OH products, which are often synthetically produced or enhanced and sold as gummies, tablets, and drink mixes. “Dark innovations in chemistry have exacerbated the addiction crisis in this country,” said HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neil, describing 7-OH as a “powerful opioid agonist many times more potent than morphine.”
The FDA clarified that this action is not aimed at the natural kratom plant itself but at these potent, often synthetic, derivatives. However, medical experts and those who have battled addiction warn that all forms of kratom carry a risk. For many, using seemingly benign kratom products serves as a gateway to more potent extracts and a debilitating cycle of dependency marked by severe withdrawal symptoms. Emily Beutler, who became addicted after trying a kratom tea, described the withdrawal as the worst she’s ever felt. “I was sweating through my bedsheets… I felt like I was going almost psychotic,” she said.
The Road to Recovery
Despite the harrowing experiences, recovery is possible. Kim Maloney is now over a year sober, has regained her health, and is rebuilding her life and relationships. “I’m in debt, but you know what? I’m coming back,” she said. “I got my life. I got my kids… I got more than anybody could hope for.”
The proposed ban on 7-OH is seen as a crucial step, but the widespread availability and deceptive marketing of kratom products remain a significant public health challenge. For consumers, the message is clear: what is marketed as natural and safe can hide a serious danger.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, you can visit the SAMHSA.gov website or call the National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for confidential, free, 24/7 support.
