Calls to U.S. poison control centers related to kratom exposure increased by more than 1,200% between 2015 and 2025, according to a new analysis from UVA Health. The study recorded a record-high 3,434 reports in 2025 alone, compared to just 258 in 2015, and found a corresponding rise in hospitalizations over the same period.

Kratom, a botanical substance derived from the Mitragyna speciosa tree native to Southeast Asia, is widely sold in vape shops, gas stations, and online retailers across the United States. Researchers attribute the dramatic increase in adverse events to both the drug's expanding availability and the rising potency of newer formulations entering the market.

The analysis, published by UVA Health researchers, highlights a particularly sharp jump in reports in the most recent year of the study period, suggesting the problem may be accelerating rather than stabilizing.

Study Quality Note: This report is described as an 'analysis' of poison center call data, which is observational in nature. It does not establish causation and relies on voluntary reporting to poison centers, which may underrepresent the true scope of kratom-related adverse events. Sample size and peer-review status of the full study were not specified in available reporting. Potential conflicts of interest were not disclosed in the source material.

Kratom has been the subject of ongoing regulatory debate in the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has previously warned about risks associated with kratom use, including potential for dependence and serious adverse effects, though the substance remains legal at the federal level in most states.

Source: MedicalXpress, https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-kratom-skyrocket-nation-poison-centers.html