What is kratom?

Kratom is a tropical tree (Mitragyna speciosa) native to Southeast Asia, with leaves that contain compounds that can have psychotropic (mind-altering) effects.

Kratom is not currently an illegal substance and has been easy to order on the internet. It is sometimes sold as a green powder in packets labeled “not for human consumption.” It is also sometimes sold as an extract or gum.

Kratom sometimes goes by the following names:

• Biak
• Ketum
• Kakuam
• Ithang
• Thom

Learn more about kratom here

Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institutes of Health; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.