Rising Concerns Over Kratom Use in California

News Summary

Kratom’s popularity in California is surging, raising significant health concerns related to addiction and overdose. The substance is easily accessible with no age restrictions, prompting calls for regulation. Recent statistics show alarming rates of dependency, particularly around a potent variant known as hydroxy kratom. Legislative efforts to impose age restrictions have stalled, leading to calls for greater education on kratom’s risks and potential dangers, including serious health issues and fatalities linked to its misuse.

Costa Mesa, California – The use of kratom, a tropical plant native to Southeast Asia that has been traditionally used to relieve pain and boost energy, is seeing a sharp rise in popularity across California. Currently legal and widely available without age restrictions, kratom’s presence in smoke shops and gas stations has raised significant health concerns amid increasing reports of addiction and overdose.

In areas like Orange County, kratom is readily accessible, with consumers being able to purchase it from various outlets without any limitations. A recent visit to a smoke shop in Costa Mesa highlighted the lack of restrictions surrounding kratom, with customers able to obtain free samples of a more potent variant known as hydroxy kratom. Hydroxy kratom is reported to be 50 to 100 times more potent than traditional kratom, which significantly heightens the concerns regarding its safety and potential for addiction.

Kratom acts as a stimulant at lower doses but mimics the effects of opioids at higher doses by binding to the same brain receptors as morphine and heroin. It also influences serotonin pathways, which may lead to antidepressant-like effects for some users. However, this dual nature contributes to the growing ambiguity about kratom’s potential for misuse and dependency.

The rise in dependency cases is alarming. Detox programs for those recovering from hydroxy kratom addiction have become as prevalent as those for fentanyl, indicating a notable uptick in kratom-related treatment needs. Recent statistics show that about 2 million people across the United States are currently using kratom, and some experts believe this number could be substantially higher.

In response to the escalating concerns surrounding kratom, proposed legislation such as Assembly Bill 2365 has aimed to regulate the sales of kratom by restricting purchases to individuals aged 21 and older. However, movement on this bill has stalled, and kratom remains legal, inexpensive, and largely unregulated in California, prompting alarm among healthcare providers and parents.

While treatment options for kratom dependency do exist, they parallel the withdrawal protocols used for traditional opioid addictions. This highlights the urgent need for comprehensive educational efforts to raise public awareness about kratom’s risks. The substance varies significantly in terms of effects and potency due to the lack of standardization, which creates further risks regarding its purity. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any medications containing kratom and has classified it as a “drug of concern.”

Kratom’s health risks are becoming increasingly clear. Besides the risk of addiction, it has been linked to serious health issues including seizures, liver toxicity, and overdose deaths, particularly when combined with other substances. In California, there were 87 kratom-related deaths reported in 2022, although only seven cases attributed deaths directly to kratom alone. These statistics highlight the need for greater regulation and oversight in the kratom market.

Advocacy groups are beginning to push for more regulations rather than outright bans, recognizing that while kratom may offer certain benefits, the safety concerns are substantial. Legislative efforts to promote safety standards and proper labeling are underway across the U.S., with several states adopting the Kratom Consumer Protection Act. However, until more comprehensive regulations are implemented, the debate over kratom’s role in public health and safety will likely continue.

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Additional Resources

• Los Angeles Times: Kratom Use on the Rise in Orange County
• Wikipedia: Kratom
• Orange County Tribune: Council Acts to Curb Kratom
• Google Search: Kratom News
• Los Angeles Times: Kratom Sale and Distribution Banned in Newport Beach
• Google Scholar: Kratom
• Orange County Register: Research and Regulation for Kratom
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Kratom
• WFTV: Uncovering Risks of Kratom
• Google News: Kratom Health Risks