Kratom is number one new substance addiction, say doctors
Kratom has been identified as the leading new substance addiction by doctors, with synthetic forms labeled 'gas-station heroin' due to its accessibility and deadly risks. States are accelerating bans, while industry and health advocates clash over regulation. Treatment options remain limited, and public health officials warn of an emerging epidemic tied to concentrated products. The substance’s opioid-like effects and ease of purchase—even in gas stations—heighten concerns.
What changed
New reports confirm kratom’s rise as the primary new addiction, with explicit warnings from doctors about synthetic variants and state-level bans expanding rapidly.
Live updates
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Doctors warn kratom is top new addiction as bans spread, 'gas-station heroin' risks grow
confidence 93%Kratom has been identified as the leading new substance addiction by doctors, with synthetic forms labeled 'gas-station heroin' due to its accessibility and deadly risks. States are accelerating bans, while industry and health advocates clash over regulation. Treatment options remain limited, and public health officials warn of an emerging epidemic tied to concentrated products. The substance’s opioid-like effects and ease of purchase—even in gas stations—heighten concerns.
What's confirmed:
- Doctors in multiple regions report kratom as the number one new substance addiction, surpassing other emerging drugs.
- Synthetic kratom, marketed as 'gas-station heroin,' is linked to dozens of overdose deaths annually in New York alone.
- The substance’s active component, 7-OH, has opioid-like effects and is widely available across the U.S., despite regulatory pushback.
- States including Alabama have banned kratom, yet illegal sales persist through unregulated channels.
- Treatment for kratom use disorder remains underdeveloped, with psychosocial interventions like cognitive-behavioral therapy and opioid agonist therapies as primary options.
- Kratom’s concentrated and semi-synthetic forms are increasingly associated with addiction and overdose risks, diverging from its traditional herbal marketing.
- A live tracker shows multiple states advancing legislation to restrict or ban kratom sales as of mid-2026.
Still unconfirmed:
- A 'Kratom Civil War' is unfolding, with industry groups and health advocates publicly clashing over bans, though details of specific alliances remain unclear.
- Health Secretary RFK Jr. is reportedly aiming to ban 7-OH, a key kratom compound, though no official announcement has been confirmed.
- Some recovery specialists claim synthetic kratom variants are now the primary driver of addiction cases, but no standardized data supports this claim across regions.