Full Breakdown
Kratom Use Surges in the U.S., Prompting Health Alerts and Legislative Action
5/17/2026, 9:50:50 PM
Rising Use and Health Findings
- A 2021-2024 national survey found 5 million Americans have ever used kratom, including over 100 000 adolescents 12-17; lifetime prevalence rose from 1.6 % to 1.9 %, with adults 21-34 reporting the highest rates (3.4 % lifetime, 1 % past year). Use is rising despite half of states banning or regulating the plant.
- Most users also reported substance-use disorder, cannabis use, serious psychological distress or major depression. Kratom-involved overdose deaths usually include other substances (>90 %).
- Mitragynine produces opioid-like effects; the synthetic derivative 7-OH can be 5-50 times more potent and is sold as “legal morphine.” The FDA has not approved kratom, the DEA lists it as a drug of concern, and agencies warn of liver toxicity, seizures, dependence and contamination.
Policy Landscape and Stakeholder Perspectives
- University of Michigan’s Sean Esteban McCabe urges nationwide policy changes, noting that five million users outnumber the combined population of the six smallest states. Illinois public-health officials confirm kratom’s presence in dozens of overdose deaths and cite the absence of standardized testing.
- State Rep. Patrick Windhorst, citing a constituent’s fatal overdose, backs HB 3129 to place kratom in Schedule III. Rep. Bill Hauter, also a physician, supports the same bill and co-sponsors HB 1303, which would bar sales to anyone under 21, add a 5 % tax, and allow fines up to $20 000.
- Industry voice Craig Katz of CBD Kratom says most producers favor regulation—age-gating, labeling, third-party testing—and Rep. La Shawn Ford calls for collaborative solutions for Illinois.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The survey provides a cross-sectional snapshot; it cannot determine whether kratom use precedes mental-health symptoms or vice versa.
- Because kratom does not appear on standard drug panels, clinical prevalence is likely under-reported.
- Overdose data often involve multiple substances, making it difficult to isolate kratom’s specific contribution.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Policy changes regarding kratom and 7-OH products are needed in all states if we are serious about protecting our children,” — Sean Esteban McCabe, professor, University of Michigan
- “Most of the products have those effects of stress relief, anxiety relief, and pain relief,” — Craig Katz, government relations & compliance manager, CBD Kratom
- “It does have an opioid effect, so it impacts the same receptors,” — Dr. Maria Rahmandar, medical director, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
- “I was actually contacted by a constituent whose husband had an overdose and died from the substance," said State Rep.” — State Rep. Patrick Windhorst, R-117th District
What’s Next
- Illinois lawmakers must decide on HB 3129 and HB 1303 before the May 31 deadline.
- Federal agencies may consider tighter scheduling as national use climbs.
- Ongoing product-liability lawsuits across the country could pressure manufacturers to adopt stricter safety, labeling, and testing standards.
