When it comes to drug use, there are a few big scary names that come to mind. Fentanyl, heroin, and synthetic cannabinoids have all been known to lead to overdosing and, in some cases, death. But one culprit behind drug overdosing is still on your pharmacy shelf. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report Friday detailing the deaths linked to an over-the-counter herbal supplement called kratom. Sold in powdered or capsule form, this drug is marketed as a balm to pain, anxiety, and even dependence on other drugs. But the substance isn't regulated by the FDA, and some officials have concerns about its safety. Kratom is said to cause a euphoric high similar to that of opioid drugs — the same ones that have caused our nationwide epidemic of drug dependence and addiction. While previous estimates of kratom-related deaths hovered around 44, the CDC analyzed 18 months of data to find that kratom was involved in 91 overdose deaths across 27 states, the new report said. Most deaths had other drugs involved, like fentanyl or heroin; but in seven of the cases, kratom was the only drug linked to the deaths. Using kratom can cause "a variety of serious medical outcomes," said Henry Spiller, who has conducted studies on the drug. "Just because it is currently classified as an herbal supplement does not mean it is regulated or that it is safe." Read more about the dangers of kratom at CBS News.<doc-sep>Kratom, a known herbal supplement for pain relief, has caused at least 91 deaths in the United States from July to December 2016. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examined 27,338 overdose deaths. Less than 1 percent or 152 of those tested positive for kratom in the toxicology reports. Authorities said they cannot rule out other substances that might have contributed to the cause of deaths. "In approximately 80 percent of kratom-positive and kratom-involved deaths in this analysis, the decedents had a history of substance misuse, and approximately 90 percent had no evidence that they were currently receiving medically supervised treatment for pain," reported the CDC. Symptoms Of Kratom Overdose Kratom users testified for its effectiveness as in relieving fatigue and enhancing mood. Experts raised safety issues especially that it can be bought easily over-the-counter. Poison control centers in the United States reported that exposure to kratom resulted in life-threatening conditions like seizures and high blood pressure. Other side effects include dry mouth, weight loss, chills, constipation, changes in urine color, liver damage, and muscle pain. Large amounts of kratom affect the central nervous system and could lead to depression, delusion, difficulty in breathing, coma, and death. The substance immediately takes action five to 10 minutes after its intake, while the effects may last two to five hours. Animal tests showed that kratom is more potent than morphine. Mothers taking kratom are likely to expose their infants during breastfeeding. More Cause Of Concern The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported the presence of heavy metals like lead and nickel in kratom products. The analysis showed that the amount of these substances in kratom, use this (it's types like red vein borneo kratom) and other derived products exceeded the safety margins for oral intake. "We've already been telling people that kratom is dangerous," said Dr. Rais Vohra, medical director of the Fresn/Madera division of the California Poison Control System. "There are acute effects, withdrawal effects, salmonella, and now here's evidence that there are actually heavy metals as well. This is just one more reason to avoid kratom products." Rick Spiller, director of the Central Ohio Poison Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, said a one-time dose of kratom should not be a cause of concern. Yet, he warned individuals taking it as an herbal supplement for serious side effects. ⓒ 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.<doc-sep>Many users claim Kratom has helped them kick an opioid addiction. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kratom is the leaf of a Southeast Asian tree that’s growing in popularity here in the U.S. It’s marketed as an herbal supplement to ease anxiety, stress, and pain while boosting energy levels. Many users claim Kratom has even helped them kick an opioid addiction. But a newly released government report said Kratom was a contributing factor in 91 overdose deaths across the country over an 18-month period, according to the CDC. Most who died had also taken heroin, fentanyl or other drugs. But in seven cases, Kratom was the only drug in the person’s system at the time of their death. Kratom is sold legally but is unregulated. That's why health officials believe it’s dangerous. According to the DEA, Kratom can be ingested a number of ways -- as a pill, crushed and smoked, or brewed as a tea. It’s listed on their website as a "drug of concern." The American Kratom Association released a statement Thursday insisting their product is safe but warning customers not to purchase Kratom that is chemically altered or synthetically enhanced.<doc-sep>U.S. health officials say overdose deaths involving the herbal supplement kratom are more common than previously reported. A government report released Thursday said kratom was a cause in 91 overdose deaths in 27 states. Officials previously said they knew of 44 nationally. Most who died had also taken heroin, fentanyl or other drugs. But kratom was the only substance detected in seven of the deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the numbers after combing through death certificates and toxicology reports from an 18-month period. Kratom comes from a plant native to Southeast Asia. It is sold in capsules and powders with claims that it helps ease pain, anxiety and drug dependence. Officials say it causes euphoric effects like the opioid drugs behind the current nationwide overdose epidemic.<doc-sep>
American health officials are urging the public not to use Kratom, a herbal supplement derived from a psychoactive plant native to Southeast Asia thought to contain potential therapeutic benefits. Between July 2016 and December 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report 91 people died after unintentionally overdosing. Mitragyna speciosa contains the alkaloid mitragynine, which in low doses produces a stimulant effect but results in opioid-like effects when consumed at higher doses. As such, it affects the same opioid brain receptors as morphine, further exposing users to the risks of addiction, abuse, and dependence. Last Fall, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a health advisory urging consumers not to use kratom. Since 2012, the agency has monitored the drug and more recently identified it as one of concern. A comprehensive review of studies on kratom use and mental health conducted since the 1960s found that kratom, which is sometimes used as a substitute for people addicted to opioids, also causes withdrawal symptoms. Additionally, the FDA concludes that there are no approved uses for the herb. "Taken in total, the scientific evidence we’ve evaluated about kratom provides a clear picture of the biologic effect of this substance. Kratom should not be used to treat medical conditions, nor should it be used as an alternative to prescription opioids,” said the FDA in a statement. “There is no evidence to indicate that kratom is safe or effective for any medical use. And claiming that kratom is benign because it’s 'just a plant' is shortsighted and dangerous.” In order to determine the associated number of deaths from kratom, the CDC analyzed data from the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS). Between 2011 and 2017, the national poison control database reported 1,807 calls concerning potential poisonings that ultimately pinpointed kratom use as the cause of death in 11 states between June 2016 and 2017, more than doubling to 27 states the following year. During that time, 152 of more than 27,000 total overdose deaths (0.56 percent) tested positive for kratom, while the supplement was determined to be the cause of death in 91 of these cases (nearly 60 percent). Traces of other drugs were also found in the bodies of many of those that died, most commonly fentanyl (65 percent) and heroin (nearly 33 percent). What’s particularly worrying about these overdoses is that 80 percent of these cases had a history of substance abuse, while 90 percent had no evidence of currently receiving medically supervised pain treatment.