Despite Federal Warnings, Kratom Still Readily Available Across US

(The University of Mississippi) Nearly three-fourths of tobacco and vape stores in the United States sell an addictive, dangerous substance with connections to liver toxicity, seizures and death, according to a new study from the University of Mississippi.

That's a key finding of a recent study on the availability of kratom, published in the American Journal of Public Health.

Kratom is a tree native to Southeast Asia and its leaves have been used as a stimulant and for pain management for hundreds of years. More than 2 million people in the United States use kratom annually.

The Drug Enforcement Administration briefly classified kratom as a Schedule I drug in 2016, but withdrew that action after public backlash. Several states have taken up the issue in local laws since, but there has been no federal action.

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Editor's Note: Learn more about kratom on Get Smart About Drugs' drug index.