On the last day of September, two University of Mississippi students were found dead in separate dorm rooms. Reports of kratom at both scenes have raised serious concerns about the dangers of this increasingly popular substance. Despite its growing availability and potential for abuse, kratom remains largely unregulated at the federal level. Congress can act by pressing the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to pursue stronger federal controls by making all kratom a Schedule I controlled substance.

Kratom has surged in popularity in recent years, with products readily available at gas stations and convenience stores. Derived from Southeast Asia, kratom contains compounds that act on the body’s opioid receptors. One compound of particular concern is 7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly known as 7-OH, which can have powerful opioid-like effects. Kratom products are marketed for a variety of purposes, with some users seeking stimulation at lower doses and relaxation or pain relief at higher doses. For college students facing demanding exams, long study sessions, and mounting stress, these products may appear appealing. However, the potential for dependence, severe adverse effects, serious health consequences, and even death makes their widespread accessibility deeply concerning.

The FDA has warned consumers about kratom risks for years, yet comprehensive federal regulation is absent. Recent federal efforts have focused on addressing synthetic 7-OH products while avoiding regulations for the natural kratom leaf. Both natural kratom products and synthetic 7-OH products react the same way within the body, making them both incredibly dangerous and potentially lethal. 

Representative Andy Harris (R-MD) has authored a letter urging the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to put it among the most dangerous drugs like cocaine and heroin. Placing kratom-related products as a Schedule I controlled substance would deem it a drug of high potential for abuse, with no currently accepted medical use and a lack of safety protocols.

This is a problem that has spanned every district and state. Ask your Representative — regardless of political party — to sign onto this letter. Please call or email your Member of Congress and ask them to sign onto Rep. Harris’s letter urging the DEA to schedule kratom.