Kratom leaf-derived products are being made into forms such as fruit gummies, bottled drinks, and more, some of which are marketed as “natural” and “plant-based,” yet may contain high concentrations of compounds with opioid-like effects. On September 17, a seminar titled “Kratom Leaf and Adolescents: Emerging Drug Trends” was held in Huntington Town, Long Island, reminding parents of the risks these products pose to teenagers.
Kratom leaf is a plant native to Southeast Asia containing compounds like mitragynine and the naturally occurring but low-content “7-hydroxymitragynine” (7-OH) that can act on opioid receptors in the human body. What has raised significant concerns from U.S. regulatory agencies in recent years are products with concentrated or intensified forms of 7-OH.
Relevant health issues are rapidly increasing. Data released this year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S. shows a drastic rise in reports of kratom-related exposures to poison control centers nationwide, increasing from 258 cases in 2015 to 3,434 in 2025, a roughly 1,200% increase over a decade, with a significant surge in 2025. In the first half of this year, reports of exposures related to the active ingredient in kratom, “7-hydroxymitragynine,” have reached 901 cases, surpassing the total for the whole of 2025.
“The purpose of tonight is not to instill fear, but to provide facts to families,” said Theresa Mari, the councilwoman organizing the seminar. Parents need to know what their children might be exposed to, how to recognize warning signs, and have enough information to communicate with their children.
The seminar brought together professionals in the fields of drug prevention, addiction treatment, psychiatry, and public health, including experts from the Huntington Drug and Alcohol Counseling Center, Brandeis University, and Mountainside Treatment Center for Addiction Recovery, covering the dangers of kratom leaf, warning signs of adolescent use, prevention, and treatment. Attendees emphasized that protecting adolescents from the dangers of emerging addictive substances requires the collective involvement of parents, schools, healthcare professionals, community organizations, and local governments.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that high concentrations of 7-OH are classified as potent opioids, which can be made into pills, gummies, powdered drinks, and bottled beverages, and can be purchased through various channels such as online retailers, tobacco shops, convenience stores, and gas stations. Even if products are labeled as “kratom,” their ingredients and risks may vary significantly.
The FDA has received reports related to 7-OH addiction, insomnia, anxiety, depression, gastrointestinal discomfort, and seizures. Prolonged use may lead to tolerance and physical dependence, with withdrawal symptoms when attempting to discontinue or reduce usage.
Parents should be alert to signs such as abnormal drowsiness, nausea, constipation, changes in sleep patterns, irritability, anxiety, declining academic performance, unexplained expenditures, and the sudden appearance of unfamiliar gummies, pills, powders, or liquid bottles at home. If dependence has developed, discontinuation may lead to restless behavior, body aches, fatigue, irritability, or sweating.
If a child is found using such products, it is advised to first ascertain the product’s ingredients, quantity, frequency of use, and duration. With regular use, especially of high-concentration products, seeking assistance from a pediatrician or addiction medicine specialist is recommended. The seminar also suggests that parents refrain from immediately questioning their children and instead seek to understand their knowledge about these products, maintain open communication, and detect issues early.
This year, New York State has prohibited the sale of kratom leaf and related products to individuals under 21. The seminar concludes by reminding parents that just because a product is available does not mean it is safe, that “natural” does not equate to harmless, and that products labeled as “kratom” may vary significantly in composition and risks.