What Is Kratom? What Parents and College Students Should Know

Quick answer: Kratom is a plant whose compounds can have opioid-like effects. In the United States, the same name may refer to leaf, concentrated extract, or products with added or enhanced 7-OH. None is an FDA-approved treatment. Regular use can lead to dependence and withdrawal. If someone cannot be awakened, has a seizure, or has trouble breathing, call 911. The FDA’s kratom overview and 7-OH warning explain the product and safety distinctions.

What is kratom? Leaf, extract, and 7-OH

A parent may hear “kratom” without knowing whether their student used leaf powder, a concentrated shot, or a 7-OH gummy. Those details change the conversation with a clinician. Products sold under that name fall into three broad groups: dried leaf from the tree Mitragyna speciosa, concentrated extracts of that leaf, and products that contain added or enhanced 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). Parents and students who treat those as the same substance will misread both the risk and what to tell a clinician.

Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Its leaves contain more than 50 alkaloids. The two that dominate the regulatory discussion are mitragynine and 7-OH. In natural leaf, 7-OH makes up less than 2% of the total alkaloid content. FDA on kratom Leaf is sold as powder, crushed leaf, or capsules. Extracts reduce that plant material to a smaller volume with a higher alkaloid load, often as shots, liquids, or highly concentrated powders.

7-OH is different. It occurs naturally in the plant only in trace amounts. Products that add 7-OH or raise it far above leaf levels are, in the Food and Drug Administration’s language, “novel potent opioid products that have not been proven safe or effective for any use.” They are sold as tablets, gummies, drink mixes, and shots, online and in smoke shops, gas stations, and corner stores, sometimes with claims about anxiety, mood, pain, or opioid withdrawal. FDA on 7-OH A label that says “kratom” can still list 7-OH, mitragynine, or an extract strength in small type. A student who says “I used kratom” may have used leaf powder or a 7-OH gummy. Those are not interchangeable. The package—not the street name—is what matters.

Did kratom cause the Oxford student deaths? What officials have said

On September 22, 2026, Mississippi Today reported that two University of Mississippi students had died the previous day and that Oxford police, investigating the deaths as separate cases, had found packaged kratom from a retail store during both investigations. Officials said they had no confirmed evidence the deaths were connected and had not found information that kratom or any other substance contributed to either death. They advised people, out of caution, not to use kratom or any medication or substance that was not prescribed to them or obtained from a trusted, regulated source.

What is approved, and what is not

No kratom or 7-OH product is an FDA-approved drug. FDA has concluded that kratom is not lawfully marketed in the United States as a drug, a dietary supplement, or a food additive in conventional food. There are no legally marketed prescription or over-the-counter medicines that contain kratom or its known alkaloids. FDA on kratom 7-OH is not approved for any medical use and is not lawful as a dietary supplement or when added to conventional food. FDA on 7-OH Retail availability is not the same as regulatory approval.

Why people use it, and what the evidence covers

People use these products for pain, anxiety, energy, sleep, and to ease opioid withdrawal. If anxiety is the reason for use, it deserves its own assessment; outwardly keeping up with school or work does not rule out significant distress. See our guide to high-functioning anxiety for that separate issue. Store claims and personal reports do not establish that current U.S. products are safe or effective for any of those problems. FDA warns consumers not to use kratom for medical treatment and states that kratom is not appropriate for medical treatment until safety and effectiveness are evaluated. Published, well-designed human studies in which kratom was administered are few. FDA on kratom

What the agencies have documented is harm, with important limits on what the numbers mean. FDA warns of serious adverse events with kratom that include liver toxicity, seizures, and substance use disorder. It lists opioid-related effects that can include sedation, nausea and vomiting, constipation, physical dependence and withdrawal, and respiratory depression. Deaths have been associated with kratom use in rare cases, usually in combination with other drugs. Some products have been contaminated with Salmonella or with concerning levels of heavy metals. FDA on kratom

For added or enhanced 7-OH products, FDA reports harms that include addiction, anxiety, depression, gastrointestinal distress, insomnia, seizures, and withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, body aches, fatigue, irritability, and cold sweats. FDA on 7-OH

Poison-center data describe calls, not the full population of people who use these products. A 2026 MMWR analysis of the National Poison Data System counted 14,449 kratom exposure reports from 2015 through 2025 among people 12 and older. Annual reports rose from 258 in 2015 to 3,434 in 2025. Reports increased through 2019, held roughly steady from 2020 through 2024, then rose sharply in 2025. Most reports involved males. Rates were highest at ages 20–39; the steepest increase was at ages 40–59. Intentional misuse was the most common reason given. CDC MMWR

Multiple-substance exposures had higher hospitalization and serious-outcome rates than kratom-only reports. Common co-reported substances included ethanol, opioids, benzodiazepines, cannabis, stimulants, and antidepressants. The same analysis counted 233 kratom-associated deaths over those 11 years, 3.2% of 7,287 serious medical outcomes in the file. Of those deaths, 79% involved more than one substance. Among deaths, opioids were listed in 62%, benzodiazepines in 20%, stimulants in 20%, and ethanol in 19%. CDC MMWR

The CDC authors state the limits directly. Poison-center reporting is voluntary. Substances and outcomes can be misclassified. When several drugs are listed, an outcome—including death—cannot be assigned to kratom. The dataset also does not separate leaf from concentrated extracts or 7-OH products. CDC MMWR A package at a death scene is information for investigators. It is not a completed cause of death.

What are signs of kratom dependence and withdrawal?

Physical dependence and substance use disorder overlap, but they are not the same finding. Regular use of a product that acts on opioid receptors can produce tolerance and withdrawal. A person can have those physical effects and still meet work or class obligations. FDA describes substance use disorder cases involving kratom as using longer than intended, using more than intended, craving the product, continuing despite harm, and developing tolerance and withdrawal. FDA on kratom The second pattern is about loss of control and consequences, not only about feeling sick if a dose is missed.

Withdrawal from 7-OH products, per FDA, can include restlessness, body aches, fatigue, irritability, and cold sweats. FDA on 7-OH Withdrawal is a reason to contact a clinician. It is not, by itself, the same as an overdose.

When should a parent or student get help?

Call 911 when the person is unresponsive, cannot be awakened, has collapsed, is seizing, or is having trouble breathing. Call 911 for blue or gray lips or nails, or for any other acute medical emergency. FDA on 7-OH SAMHSA 988 FAQs Follow the 911 dispatcher’s instructions while help is on the way.

Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222, or use Poisonhelp.org, when someone has used a kratom or 7-OH product, is awake and breathing, and you need to know whether the exposure requires an emergency department. That includes an unexpected reaction, an unknown dose, a mixed ingestion that has not yet produced emergency signs, or a product whose label is unclear. Have the package available. FDA on 7-OH

Do not use Poison Help as a substitute for 911 when the person is unresponsive or not breathing adequately. Do not wait through emergency signs in order to reach a poison specialist first.

988 is the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It is for suicidal thinking, mental-health crisis, and substance-use crisis when there is not an overdose or other medical emergency underway. Counselors take calls, texts, and chats 24 hours a day, including from a parent or roommate who is worried about someone else. If a suicide attempt is in progress, or the person is medically unstable, call 911. SAMHSA 988 FAQs

SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357), is a free, confidential, 24-hour treatment-referral line in English and Spanish (TTY 1-800-487-4889). It refers callers to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community organizations. FindTreatment.gov is the online locator; a ZIP code can also be texted to 435748 (HELP4U). SAMHSA National Helpline

Schedule a clinical assessment when use is daily or increasing; when missing a dose produces withdrawal; when the product is being used to manage pain, anxiety, sleep, or opioid withdrawal; or when school, money, or relationships are being damaged. An assessment is also appropriate after a non-emergency poison-center call if use is ongoing. FDA’s direction for people seeking help with opioid addiction, anxiety, mood disorders, or pain is to see a health care professional, because approved treatments exist for those conditions. FDA on 7-OH Adverse events can be reported to FDA through MedWatch or 1-800-332-1088.

What should a parent ask about kratom use?

Parents who need a usable history should ask about the product, not the plant. Useful questions are narrow: What did the label say—leaf, extract, mitragynine, or 7-OH? Was it powder, capsules, a shot, a gummy, or a tablet? Can they show the package? How many times a day, for how long, and what happens if a dose is skipped? What problem was it meant to fix? What else is being used, including alcohol, benzodiazepines, stimulants, cannabis, and leftover opioid pain medication? Has there been a seizure, fainting, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or a night they could not be woken?

For a student seeking care: Bring the package or a photograph of every side of it. State the product name, the form, any milligram claim on the label, how often it was taken, and the time of the last dose. State whether it was leaf, an extract, or a 7-OH product. List other substances, including alcohol and prescriptions. Say why use started, including if the reason was opioid withdrawal or pain. Say whether stopping has already been tried and what happened. If pregnancy is possible, say so. Whether the product contains added or enhanced 7-OH is particularly important to report.

What if kratom is being used for opioid withdrawal?

Buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone are FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder. SAMHSA describes them as medications that help stabilize brain chemistry, block the euphoric effects of opioids, reduce cravings, and restore ordinary physical function. They may be used long term. Buprenorphine can be prescribed in office-based settings. Methadone is dispensed through opioid treatment programs. Extended-release naltrexone requires the person to be off opioids first, or it can precipitate withdrawal. Counseling and behavioral therapies are used with the medications. SAMHSA treatment options

Those three medicines are approved for opioid use disorder. They are not FDA-approved specifically as treatments for kratom dependence. A clinician can assess whether someone also has opioid use disorder and discuss the appropriate treatment. Treatment of kratom dependence requires individual assessment; these medicines do not have an FDA-approved kratom indication. Kratom and 7-OH are not approved treatments for pain, anxiety, or opioid withdrawal.

The most useful next step depends on the immediate problem: emergency services for serious physical symptoms, Poison Help for an exposure question, and a clinical assessment for ongoing use or withdrawal.

Frequently asked questions

Is kratom a drug?

Kratom is a plant, but its compounds act on opioid receptors and can produce drug-like effects, including dependence and withdrawal. No kratom product is FDA-approved as a medicine. “Natural” and “sold in a store” do not establish safety or approval. FDA

Is 7-OH the same as kratom leaf?

No. Natural leaf contains only a small amount of 7-OH. The FDA separately warns about products with added or enhanced 7-OH, including gummies, tablets, and shots. The product label and package matter when someone seeks medical advice. FDA

Did kratom cause the University of Mississippi students’ deaths?

Officials said packaged kratom was found during both investigations. They had not found information that kratom or another substance contributed to either death, and they had no confirmed evidence the deaths were connected when the September 22 report was published.

Can kratom be used to treat opioid withdrawal?

Kratom is not FDA-approved to treat opioid withdrawal. A clinician can assess whether opioid use disorder is present and discuss evidence-based options; the medicines approved for opioid use disorder are not approved specifically for kratom dependence. FDA; SAMHSA

Who should I call after a concerning exposure?

Call 911 for unresponsiveness, seizure, or trouble breathing. If the person is awake and breathing but you need advice about a product or reaction, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. For an ongoing substance-use or mental-health crisis without a medical emergency, call or text 988. FDA; SAMHSA

Editorial note: The Oxford investigation details above reflect reporting available September 24, 2026. This article offers general education, not an individual diagnosis or treatment plan.

References

Goldberg, M. (2026, September 22). Oxford police investigate 2 university student deaths, warn against using kratom. Mississippi Today. Mississippi Today report

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). 988 frequently asked questions. SAMHSA 988 FAQ

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). SAMHSA’s National Helpline. SAMHSA National Helpline

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Substance use treatment options. SAMHSA treatment options

Towers, E. B., Thomas, Y. T., Holstege, C. P., & Farah, R. (2026). Increases in kratom-related reports to poison centers — National Poison Data System, United States, 2015–2025. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 75(11), 139–145. CDC report

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). FDA and kratom. FDA kratom overview

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). Products containing 7-OH can cause serious harm. FDA 7-OH safety update