A lawsuit filed by the family of a 55-year-old California woman who died after using a kratom product is drawing attention to the substance’s potential health risks. According to the coroner’s report, the woman died from acute mitragynine intoxication, with chronic alcohol use listed as a contributing factor. Mitragynine is the primary active compound in kratom. The family is suing the product’s manufacturer and retailer.
Online responses highlighted disagreement and confusion about kratom’s risks. Many commenters focused on the woman’s alcohol use, arguing that kratom alone did not cause her death or questioning the coroner’s findings. Others defended kratom as an option for managing chronic pain or opioid withdrawal and emphasized differences between traditional kratom products, extracts, and concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products. People who reported negative experiences described dependence, withdrawal, and other adverse effects. The availability of kratom products in gas stations and smoke shops also prompted questions about product safety, labeling, and regulation, while some commenters said they had never heard of kratom or did not know what it does.
Recommendation
The conversation highlights a need for clear information about kratom and the differences among products sold under that name. Health communicators may explain that kratom contains compounds that interact with opioid receptors and can carry risks including dependence and withdrawal. No drugs containing kratom or its compounds are FDA-approved to treat pain, opioid withdrawal, or other health conditions.
Communicators may also distinguish traditional kratom leaf products from concentrated 7-OH products, which FDA describes as potent opioid products that can cause serious harm. Messaging may emphasize that products should not be assumed to be safe because they are plant-based or readily available in gas stations, smoke shops, or online.
Reading links: Public Good News
Communication resources: Use these social media graphics on kratom and tianeptine
