Let Science Direct Public Policy on Kratom – Not the FDA Bias Against all Dietary And Botanical Supplements
The kratom community believes public policy related to kratom should follow the science. To learn more about the science that supports the fact that kratom is a safe natural botanical, and why the FDA claims being made about kratom are just wrong, visit the following page to download and review the compelling truth about kratom use by consumers: www.kratomanswers.org
Myth: The FDA claims there are deaths associated with kratom use and warns consumers from using it.
There has not been a single documented fatality that can be linked to use of the natural kratom plant alone. The FDA claimed deaths “associated with kratom use” are actually deaths caused by polydrug use, underlying medical conditions, or the use of adulterated kratom products laced with toxic levels of dangerous substances, including opioids. National Institutes on Drug Abuse’s (NIDA) newly-updated conclusions agree that unadulterated kratom use does not cause overdose deaths
Myth: Kratom’s primary alkaloid, mitragynine (MG) and metabolite 7- hydroxymitragynine(7-HMG) are dangerous opioids and have the same effects of opioids like heroin.
MG and 7-HMG, like many other substances like Chamomile, St. John’s Wort, etc., do bind to the mu-opioid receptors in the brain. Kratom’s alkaloids are actually only partial agonists, with lower dependence and abuse potential. The sectors of the brain kratom impacts are pain relief and mood sectors, not the sector that produced euphoria and, most importantly, scientific evidence demonstrates that kratom does not cause respiratory depression like classic opioids, a common cause of fatal overdoses.
Myth: Kratom is highly addictive and is abused as a drug
Like coffee, tea, and other caffeinated drinks, consumers can develop a dependency on kratom, which is vastly different from an addiction. Two NIDA funded scientific studies completely debunk the FDA theory. The Hemby study in June 2018 concluded “MG does not have abuse potential and reduces morphine intake,” and the Yue study in July 2018 reported “limited abuse liability and potential for mitragynine treatment to specifically reduce opioid abuse.” Recent studies confirm that fact.
Myth: The kratom industry has no production standards or consumer safety protocols.
The American Kratom Association (AKA) is committed to supporting regulations that provide consumers with safe, properly manufactured kratom products. The kratom community supports adherence to FDA product testing protocols that meet or exceed Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines set by the FDA for dietary ingredients/supplements and support appropriate age restrictions and labeling guidelines outlining responsible use. The kratom community has called upon the FDA to use its existing regulatory authority to remove adulterated kratom products from the market and prosecute individuals or companies who produce or distribute dangerous adulterated kratom products, but in more than 65 reports provided by the AKA, not a single prosecution by the FDA.
