Kratom, a Southeast Asian plant sold widely in the United States as a supplement, is facing renewed scrutiny after investigators found packaged kratom in the possession of two deceased University of Mississippi students. While officials have not attributed the deaths to the substance, the episode has intensified warnings about a product that is legal in some states, unregulated at the federal level and increasingly available in convenience stores, petrol stations and vape shops. Advocates describe it as a pain-relief lifeline; critics warn that its opioid-like effects and inconsistent contents can make it dangerous.
Kratom, the 'Gas Station Heroin' Raising Alarm in the U.S., Draws Fresh Scrutiny After Student Deaths
R
RDU Global Correspondent
World Politics Desk
Washington, United States 1h ago•6 min read
Kratom, a Southeast Asian plant sold widely in the United States as a supplement, is facing renewed scrutiny after investigators found packaged kratom in the possession of two deceased University of Mississippi students. While officials have not attributed the deaths to the substance, the episode has intensified warnings about a product that is legal in some states, unregulated at the federal level and increasingly available in convenience stores, petrol stations and vape shops. Advocates describe it as a pain-relief lifeline; critics warn that its opioid-like effects and inconsistent contents can make it dangerous.
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