JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) – Kratom is sold over the counter in Mississippi but is banned in Arkansas, and doctors say its risks deserve a second look after two students at the University of Mississippi were found dead.
Authorities in Mississippi say they have not confirmed a link between kratom and the deaths.
Kratom is a drug derived from the leaves of a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. However, the U.S. version of the drug — often in a pill or capsule form — is much more potent, since it’s derived from the juices and extract of the leaves.
Dr. Shane Speights, dean of the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University, said the lack of federal regulation can have real consequences.
“And unfortunately, there was no decision reached, which means that from a federal standpoint, it’s not regulated at all,” Speights said.
That decision spans back to 2016, when the federal government failed to come to a consensus about restrictions concerning kratom sales. Now, that responsibility falls to the states, which led to neighboring states having different policies concerning the drug.
“But unfortunately, we know it doesn’t stop at the border,” Speights said.
Speights said kratom, by itself and especially at high doses, can be deadly.
“But at higher dosages, unfortunately, it can cause respiratory depression and cardiovascular collapse, which means you stop breathing or your heart stops functioning correctly,” Speights said.
The pyschoactive drug acts on the brain’s opioid and stimulant receptors. It can keep people awake and, at high doses, create a high.
The Food and Drug Administration estimates about 1.7 million Americans age 12 and older used kratom in 2021. Speights said calls to Poison Control about the supplement have been rising year after year.
Speights said the biggest danger comes when people mix kratom with other drugs to chase a stronger high.
“And largely, the biggest number of overdoses and calls to poison control are kratom being mixed with other substances to try to enhance delivery of the medication, trying to increase the euphoria, trying to increase the high — sometimes with devastating effects,” Speights said.
Speights said the best way to stay safe is to avoid kratom altogether or, at the very least, talk to a doctor before taking any similar supplement.
To report a typo or correction, please click here.
Copyright 2026 KAIT. All rights reserved.