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Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a plant from Southeast Asia that acts on opioid receptors in the brain. While marketed as a "natural herbal supplement," kratom can cause physical dependence requiring medical intervention to quit safely. Medical professionals report severe withdrawal symptoms including anxiety, depression, insomnia, and physical pain lasting weeks without proper medical care.

End Kratom Addiction raises awareness about kratom addiction across the United States and urges lawmakers to take action on this growing crisis. We don't advocate for specific solutions but instead present evidence and let legislators determine the appropriate response to protect American families.

The problem is massive and growing. Online support communities like Kratom Quitters meet regularly to help those with withdrawal symptoms. Addiction medicine specialists across the country report that over half of their detox patients now seek help for kratom withdrawal. The Tampa Bay Times investigation found over 580 kratom-related deaths in Florida alone.

Signs include inability to stop using kratom despite wanting to quit, withdrawal symptoms when not using (anxiety, nausea, insomnia, muscle aches), increased tolerance requiring more product, neglecting responsibilities, spending excessive money on kratom, and failed attempts to quit. Many users report feeling "trapped" by the substance they initially thought was harmless.

Signing the petition adds your voice to thousands of Americans demanding lawmakers take action on kratom addiction. It shows legislators that this isn't just one family's story—it's a widespread crisis affecting communities nationwide. Your signature helps demonstrate the urgent need for legislative attention to protect American families.

Medical professionals across the United States are sounding alarms. Kate Gibson, an addiction medicine nurse practitioner in Richmond, reports that "more than half of the patients presented to me for detox do so because of kratom derivatives." Dr. Faried Banimahd from the Coleman Clinic calls claims that kratom has no abuse potential "ludicrous" and warns that promoting it as safe "puts lives at risk."

Kratom is sold in gas stations, convenience stores, and smoke shops next to energy drinks and candy. Products often lack proper labeling, dosing instructions, or warnings about addiction potential. The industry bypassed drug approval processes by labeling kratom as "food" despite its opioid-like effects on the brain.

Yes. The Tampa Bay Times investigation documented over 580 kratom-related deaths in Florida, including 46 people who overdosed solely on kratom with no other substances in their systems. Medical examiners found alarming levels of kratom compounds in victims' blood. Additionally, families like the Colorado father behind KratomKills.com have lost loved ones to this substance.

Resources include medical detox programs at facilities like The Coleman Institute, online support communities like KratomQuitters.com and KratomSobriety.com, specialized supplement programs like Quit K and Quit Kit, and daily virtual support meetings. Professional medical supervision is often necessary due to the severity of kratom withdrawal symptoms.

You can sign our petition, contact your elected officials, share our website with friends and family, donate to support our advocacy efforts, and help spread awareness about kratom's dangers. Many people don't realize this "natural supplement" can cause severe addiction requiring medical intervention to quit safely.

Kratom acts on the same brain receptors as opioids but is deceptively marketed as a "safe, natural herbal supplement." Unlike prescription medications that require medical oversight, kratom is sold without warnings, dosing instructions, or medical supervision. This creates a dangerous situation where people become addicted to something they believed was harmless.

Kratom withdrawal can be severe and dangerous without medical supervision. Symptoms include debilitating anxiety, depression, insomnia, nausea, muscle aches, and intense cravings that can last weeks. Many people try repeatedly to quit on their own but find the withdrawal unbearable, leading them back to kratom use. This is why medical detox programs and support communities have become essential.

Elected officials across the country recognize the kratom addiction crisis. Mayor Samuel Parham of Petersburg, Virginia has written strong support for legislative action, stating that kratom "has caused devastating harm in communities across our state." Delegate Otto Wachsmann, a pharmacist, recognizes that "kratom addiction requires serious medical intervention" and that withdrawal "is severe enough that people need professional help to quit safely."

No, kratom is completely different from marijuana or CBD. While marijuana and CBD come from cannabis plants, kratom comes from a Southeast Asian tree and acts specifically on opioid receptors in the brain—the same receptors affected by drugs like oxycodone and morphine. This makes kratom potentially much more dangerous in terms of physical dependence and withdrawal.

Scientific research shows kratom's main compound, 7-hydroxymitragynine, can be up to 13 times more potent than morphine in terms of opioid receptor activity. Studies document physical dependence, withdrawal symptoms, and tolerance development. The FDA has issued warnings about kratom's dangers, and medical literature increasingly documents addiction cases requiring professional treatment.

The kratom industry used legal loopholes to avoid drug approval processes by labeling kratom as "food" rather than medicine. While the FDA has tried to restrict kratom, industry lobbyists have successfully fought these efforts. The American Kratom Association has spent millions lobbying to keep kratom legal despite mounting evidence of addiction and deaths.

Sign up for our newsletter when you join EKA, follow our progress at endkratomaddiction.org/news-and-updates, and check back regularly for legislative updates. We'll keep supporters informed about legislative actions, new research findings, and opportunities to help with our advocacy efforts.