What is kratom and is it addictive? The controversial supplement, explained
Experts warn the herbal supplement kratom may be addictive like opioids as the FDA moves to restrict its potent compound 7-OH.
Is kratom legal in Mississippi? More states are moving to ban or regulate it. But what is it and what does it do?
Right now, it’s fully legal at the federal level.
Kratom products are sold in gas stations, vitamin stores and smoke shops in many places. At least eight states have fully banned kratom. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is considering a crackdown on a byproduct.
Some people use kratom as a painkiller. But it’s not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for prescription or over-the-counter use. The FDA warns that it might not be safe.
It’s basically in the same category as gas-station sexual enhancement pills or energy supplements. Use at your own risk.
Kratom can also be highly addictive. Some people call it “gas station heroin.”
A few weeks before his death, Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke was charged with improper passing, possession of a controlled substance, fleeing and exceeding the speed limit and trafficking a controlled substance in Arkansas. The trafficking charge stemmed from having more than 230 grams of kratom.
Joe Rogan has talked repeatedly about his own kratom use on his podcast, which has millions of followers.
It’s getting increasingly popular, even as more states are moving to ban or regulate it.
What is kratom?
Kratom is a plant ingredient from Southeast Asia. Sometimes it’s marketed as a health supplement or alternative to energy drinks.
According to the DEA, it can act as a stimulant in low doses or a sedative in high doses. It can also lead to addiction or psychosis symptoms.
In an interview with USA TODAY, UCLA addiction psychiatrist Dr. Timothy Fong said products can cram large amounts of kratom into products sold in stores.
“At its core, this is a plant that’s been around thousands of years,” Fong says. “It has been used in Southeast Asia, chewing on the leaf as a stimulant, as a way of pain relief. And now, through vast modern technology, we’ve created the ability to have, what I call, fast-food kratom, if you will. Different formulations. Capsules. Powders. Teas. Gummies. Smokable versions. All sorts of different things.”
The American Kratom Association lobbies for continued access to it. But they support FDA regulation to make sure all kratom products are safe and pure. The group is also OK with age limits to keep kids from using it.
Is kratom dangerous?
It’s all about the dose and other contributing factors. Different estimates range from 1.7 million to 2 million U.S. users a year.
Kratom has been listed as a contributing factor in some deaths, like that of chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky. In this case, it’s usually paired with other drugs. It might also make an already existing condition, like a heart problem, worse.
Los Angeles County issued a warning about the products in 2025 after three overdose deaths.
Clarke’s recent death is being investigated as a possible overdose, according to reporting from NBC Los Angeles. But the substance or substances involved have not been released at this time.
Is kratom legal in Mississippi?
Mississippi law limits kratom sales to people 21 and older, and the products must be kept behind the counter.
All kratom products sold in the state must meet specific content guidelines. Labels have to clearly include the manufacturer’s information.
At least 24 cities and 11 counties have outright banned kratom, according to a 2025 list compiled by online seller Kratom Country.
What states ban kratom?
Tennessee’s ban will start on July 1. Kentucky’s ban will start in 2027.
As of mid-2025, these states had previously banned kratom:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Indiana
- Louisiana
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
Rhode Island previously banned kratom. Earlier this year, the state implemented regulatory oversight.
What is 7-OH?
Kratom is the whole plant, and 7-Hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, is a natural chemical byproduct of it.
Last year, the FDA announced a crackdown on 7-OH products, which can be stronger than kratom. The goal was to have the DEA label it a Schedule I illicit substance, and that review is ongoing.
Health officials crack down on kratom-related products
Health officials are warning Americans about the risks of an opioid-related ingredient commonly sold at gas stations and convenience stores.
Scripps News
Where is kratom banned in Mississippi?
According to Kratom Country, kratom is banned in these Mississippi counties:
- Alcorn
- Calhoun
- Itawamba
- Lowndes
- Monroe
- Noxubee
- Pearl River
- Prentiss
- Tippah
- Tishomingo
- Union
It’s also illegal in these cities, according to Kratom Country.
- Belmont
- Blue Mountain
- Booneville
- Bruce
- Burnsville
- Caledonia
- Calhoun City
- Columbus
- Corinth
- Derma
- Fulton
- Guntown
- Iuka
- Mantachie
- Marietta
- New Albany
- Okolona
- Oxford
- Pontotoc
- Ripley
- Saltillo
- Senatobia
- Tishomingo
- Vardaman
Contributing: Charles Trepany
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with USA TODAY Network. Email her at [email protected].
