More deaths have been associated with kratom than previously known, CDC study finds

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Related: Notes from the Field: Unintentional Drug Overdose Deaths with Kratom Detected — 27 States, July 2016–December 2017 (CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

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Source: CNN

More deaths have been associated with kratom than previously known, CDC study finds

By Harmeet Kaur, CNN
Updated 1026 GMT (1826 HKT) April 13, 2019

(CNN) — A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that kratom was a cause of death in nearly 100 people over a 17-month period -- a higher number than previously reported.

The CDC analyzed reports of more than 27,000 unintentional drug overdoses across 32 states and Washington, D.C.

The study said 152 of those people were found to have kratom in their system, and the drug was a cause of death for 91 of them.

Earlier this year, the US Food and Drug Administration said that 44 deaths had been associated with the drug.

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At low doses, kratom acts like a stimulant. At higher doses, it sedates dulling pain -- which has made it a popular over-the-counter remedy for opioid withdrawal.

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Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/12/health/kratom-deaths-cdc-study/index.html

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Source: USA Today

What is kratom and what's it made from? Increasingly popular herbal drug tied to over 90 fatal overdoses

Ryan W. Miller and Joey Garrison, USA TODAY Published 11:38 a.m. ET April 13, 2019 | Updated 2:17 p.m. ET April 13, 2019

The over-the-counter herbal drug kratom has been linked to an increasing number of overdose deaths, federal health officials said this week.

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What is kratom?

Kratom is a plant grown naturally in Southeast Asian countries including Thailand and Malaysia, where it's been widely used for centuries. It's sold as a powder, typically in capsules, that can be used in tea to ease opioid withdrawals as well as fatigue, pain, coughing and diarrhea.

In the United States, the herbal supplement is typically purchased at smoke shops, gas stations or online.

And its use is increasing in popularity, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2019/04/13/kratom-what-popular-herbal-supplement-tied-fatal-overdoses/3450421002/