Stories of the Impact of Kratom Addiction

Wendy Chamberlain

Founder of Kratom Danger Awareness, Inc. New York

kratomdangerawareness.org

My son, Joseph S. Lumbrazo, died from mitragynine toxicity in 2020. Since his death, I have personally spoken with and documented the stories of dozens of families nationwide whose loved ones’ deaths were medically linked by examiners or physicians to kratom or mitragynine toxicity. These are not isolated cases—they represent a growing and preventable public health crisis.

Dean Francis

Father Virginia

In 2017, our son Cameron discovered kratom online while he was a college athlete. It was marketed as a "safe, plant-based herbal supplement"—a healthy alternative to alcohol that could boost mood, improve focus for studying, and even help with sleep.

In 2021, a terrifying trip to the emergency room exposed the truth. A physician told us plainly: kratom acts like an opioid—and Cameron was in severe withdrawal. He felt like he was going to die. What followed was physical and emotional torment we wouldn't wish on anyone. Recovery was long, agonizing, and seemingly hopeless at times—more like climbing a mountain on his hands and knees.

Cameron lost nearly eight years of his life to a product sold as harmless.

Today, his story is no longer rare. Across our communities, more families are confronting kratom dependence, devastating withdrawal, and worse - death.

While compounds in this plant may have therapeutic potential, the risks are real, and many in the kratom industry work tirelessly to downplay them. This website exists to expose the truth, warn parents and grandparents, and urge lawmakers to act—either by banning kratom products outright or regulating them with the same safeguards we expect for pharmacy-controlled substances: clear consumption limits, tracking, and a quality consultation upon purchase.

Together, we can end kratom addiction—and save lives.

Daniel Carter

Former Kratom User North Carolina

Nobody told me that there was any withdrawal symptoms or anything, but then I ended up feeling the same way that I did whenever I was trying to come off of opiates. So, ultimately, it just ended up leading me right back to using the drugs I was trying to get off of. There's warning labels on cigarettes, nicotine, all types of things, but kratom is honestly just like a street drug, and I don't think it should even be allowed to be sold in a gas station or be legal in general.