The Unregulated Rise of Kratom Drinks: Emerging Challenges and Policy Recommendations
Abstract
The opioid epidemic left the US health system with devastating questions.How did a profit-driven pharmaceutical company fuel a crisis that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives?One answer lies in the unchecked influence of commercial interests on product marketing and regulation, a failure that enabled the rise of OxyContin and, more recently, Juul.Given the immense harm caused by these products, it is critical to monitor emerging industries whose products carry a risk of addiction for similar warning signs.We identify kratom drinks as one such product, arguing that lax regulation, aggressive marketing, and consumer confusion make them a looming public health threat.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Alkaloids: synthesis and pharmacology
Medicinal Plant Extracts Effects
Botanical Research and Chemistry
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Public Health Reports
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Volume
- 141
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 329–334
- Publication date
- 12 January 2026
- Language
- EN