Kratom Propaganda: The Sky Is Falling (But Actually It Isn't)

If you believe everything you read about kratom, you might think this humble tree leaf from Southeast Asia is basically the botanical equivalent of a B-grade horror movie villain -- lurking in your local supplement store, waiting to destroy lives with a single dose. The reality? Kratom has been used traditionally for centuries, but that doesn't make for clickable headlines.

Let's take a deep dive into the world of anti-kratom propaganda, where facts are optional, science is selectively cited, and fear-mongering is the main course. Grab your favorite beverage (responsibly, of course), because we're about to dissect some of the most ridiculous claims made about this misunderstood botanical.

The "Deadly Kratom" Narrative: A Statistical Magic Trick

One of the most popular propaganda tactics involves the scary-sounding claim that "kratom has been linked to dozens of deaths!" Cue the dramatic music and worried parents clutching their pearls.

Here's what they don't tell you: In nearly every case where kratom was mentioned in a death report, multiple other substances were present. According to the CDC and peer-reviewed research, kratom is rarely the sole cause of overdose deaths—in nearly every case where kratom has been listed as a contributing factor, other substances such as fentanyl, benzodiazepines, or alcohol were also present.¹

It's like saying that because someone was wearing sneakers when they had a car accident, sneakers are deadly footwear. The logic is roughly equivalent to claiming that 100% of people who drink water eventually die, therefore water is lethal. Technically true, but wildly misleading.

Medical examiners have a job to do, and they list every substance found in toxicology reports. That's proper protocol. What's not proper is when advocacy groups and sensationalist media take those reports and selectively highlight only the kratom, ignoring the elephant-sized pile of actual dangerous drugs in the room.

The FDA's Greatest Hits: When Science Meets Politics

The FDA has published multiple warnings about kratom over the years, often using language that would make a fear-mongering novelist proud. They've called it an "opioid," compared it to dangerous drugs, and warned of addiction potential that would rival hardcore narcotics.

But here's where it gets interesting: The FDA's own actions tell a different story. In 2018, when kratom products were contaminated with salmonella, the FDA seized shipments and ordered recalls.² Their solution? Use the contamination as additional justification to ban all kratom instead of, you know, regulating quality and purity standards. It's like finding moldy bread at one bakery and shutting down every bakery in the country.

The 2017-2018 salmonella outbreak involved 87 cases across 35 states and led to the FDA's first-ever mandatory food recall.³ The contamination was real and dangerous—but it was a manufacturing and quality control problem, not an inherent property of the plant itself. Proper regulation could have prevented this entirely.

Meanwhile, the same FDA approves pharmaceutical opioids that genuinely do contribute to tens of thousands of deaths annually—but those come with nice profit margins and lobbying budgets, so that's different. According to a 2020 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the pharmaceutical and health product industry spent $4.7 billion on federal lobbying between 1999 and 2018—more than any other industry.⁴

Media Sensationalism: Because "Man Uses Botanical Responsibly" Doesn't Get Clicks

Local news stations love a good kratom scare story. The formula is always the same:

1. Find one person who had a bad experience (bonus points if they were simultaneously using multiple substances)
2. Interview worried parents who've never actually researched kratom
3. Show ominous B-roll footage of kratom powder in dim lighting
4. Get a quote from a local doctor who admits they don't know much about kratom but "has concerns"
5. Completely ignore the thousands of people using it responsibly
6. End with "News at 11: Is this legal supplement in YOUR neighborhood?"

They never interview the person who uses kratom to manage chronic pain after being cut off from prescription medications. They don't talk to the former opioid user who successfully transitioned to kratom and rebuilt their life. They certainly don't mention the American Kratom Association's Good Manufacturing Practice standards or third-party lab testing.

Why? Because "Local Man Drinks Kratom Tea, Goes to Work, Has Normal Day" isn't exactly Emmy-worthy journalism.

The "Gateway Drug" Fallacy: Because Everything is a Gateway to Something

This classic propaganda tactic has been used against everything from marijuana to video games to rock music. The argument goes: "If people try kratom, they'll inevitably move on to harder drugs!"

Except... that's not how it works. That's not how any of this works.

Many kratom users are actually going in the opposite direction. According to a 2020 Johns Hopkins University survey of 2,798 kratom users published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 41% reported using kratom to stop or reduce prescription or illicit opioid use, with 411 participants reporting more than one year of continuous abstinence from opioids attributed to kratom use.⁵

It's a gateway OUT for many people, not a gateway IN. But that doesn't fit the narrative, so anti-kratom advocates conveniently ignore this reality.

Cherry-Picking Studies: A Tutorial in Selective Science

Here's a fun propaganda technique: Find one questionable study, ignore all contradictory research, and cite it repeatedly as if it's the gospel truth.

Anti-kratom groups love to reference animal studies where rats were given massive doses of isolated alkaloids—doses no human would ever consume—and then experienced negative effects. Shocking! It turns out if you give any creature enormous amounts of any substance, bad things happen.

Meanwhile, peer-reviewed studies showing kratom's potential benefits get conveniently ignored. The same Johns Hopkins survey found that fewer than 3% of respondents met criteria for moderate or severe substance use disorder related to kratom—comparable to the 8-12% of people prescribed opioid medications who became dependent.⁵

Research from Johns Hopkins and other institutions continues to examine kratom's pharmacology. Studies have shown that mitragynine, kratom's primary alkaloid, acts as a partial agonist at mu-opioid receptors while also having alpha-2 adrenergic and serotonergic activity—a complex pharmacological profile distinct from traditional opioids.⁶

But anti-kratom advocates prefer to ignore peer-reviewed research from respected institutions when it doesn't support their predetermined conclusions.

The "Unregulated Danger" Argument: Ignoring Industry Solutions

"Kratom is dangerous because it's unregulated!" scream the prohibition advocates. Their solution? Ban it entirely rather than, oh, I don't know... regulate it?

It's like saying "seatbelts aren't mandatory in this car, so we should eliminate all cars" instead of just making seatbelts mandatory.

The kratom industry has actually been pushing FOR sensible regulation through Kratom Consumer Protection Acts (KCPA) in multiple states. These laws establish age restrictions, quality standards, testing requirements, and labeling guidelines. Several states have passed these protections, creating a framework for safe access.

But prohibitionists aren't interested in regulation—they want elimination. Regulation would undermine their scare tactics and force them to acknowledge that kratom can be sold safely with appropriate oversight.

Comparing Apples to Fentanyl: The False Equivalency Olympics

Perhaps the most dishonest propaganda tactic involves comparing kratom to genuinely dangerous substances. "Kratom is an opioid just like heroin!" they claim, technically noting that kratom's alkaloids interact with opioid receptors.

By this logic, chocolate is cocaine (both affect dopamine), running is heroin (endorphins bind to opioid receptors), and your grandmother's coffee habit is basically a meth addiction (both are stimulants).

The interaction mechanism matters less than the actual effects and safety profile. Research has shown important pharmacological differences. A 2024 study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology found that mitragynine did not cause respiratory depression in animal models, even at high doses.⁷ This is crucial, as respiratory depression is the primary cause of death in opioid overdoses.

Kratom has a ceiling effect that prevents respiratory depression—the main cause of death from true opioid overdose. But acknowledging this would require honesty, and we can't have that interfering with a good scare campaign.

Following the Money: When Pharmaceutical Profits Meet Botanical Competition

Here's something the anti-kratom propaganda rarely mentions: the massive financial interests backing prohibition efforts.

The pharmaceutical and health product industry spent $4.7 billion on lobbying the federal government between 1999 and 2018, with an average of $233 million per year—more than any other industry.⁴ These same companies manufacture prescription opioids that generate billions in profits. Kratom represents competition—a natural alternative that people can access without a prescription.

The lobbying figures are staggering. In 2023 alone, the pharmaceutical industry spent approximately $379 million on lobbying efforts.⁸ When you're spending that kind of money to influence policy, protecting market share becomes a priority.

Follow the money, and suddenly the aggressive anti-kratom propaganda makes a lot more sense. It's not about safety—it's about profit margins.

Louisiana's 2025 Ban: A Case Study in Prohibition Over Regulation

The most recent example of prohibition propaganda in action is Louisiana's complete ban on kratom, which took effect August 1, 2025. Governor Jeff Landry signed Senate Bill 154 into law despite overwhelming opposition from the estimated 300,000 Louisiana kratom users.⁹

The bill passed 87-6 in the House and 26-11 in the Senate, classifying kratom's primary alkaloids as Schedule I controlled substances—placing kratom alongside heroin, LSD, and marijuana.¹⁰ Possession of less than 20 grams now carries a $100 fine, while possession of more can result in up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine. Distribution carries penalties of 1-5 years in prison or fines up to $50,000.¹¹

Here's what makes this particularly instructive: lawmakers rejected compromise amendments that would have banned only high-potency synthetic products while preserving access to natural leaf kratom with proper regulation.¹² Representatives Beryl Amedee and Peter Egan attempted to allow natural kratom products while banning laboratory-created high-concentration extracts—a sensible middle ground that would have addressed legitimate safety concerns.

The House rejected these amendments without significant debate, opting instead for total criminalization.¹² No scientists, addiction researchers, or public health experts were brought in to provide balanced testimony. It was prohibition first, questions never.

This approach ignores the scientific consensus. As one analysis noted: "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and peer-reviewed research have shown that kratom is rarely the sole cause of overdose deaths. In nearly every case where kratom has been listed as a contributing factor, other substances—such as fentanyl, benzodiazepines, or alcohol—were also present."¹²

The Louisiana ban affects an estimated 300,000 regular users who will now be criminalized for their wellness choices. Many are former opioid users who found kratom helpful in their recovery—exactly the population that prohibition will harm most.

Real Risks vs. Manufactured Panic: The Actual Truth About Kratom

Let's be clear: kratom isn't candy. It's a botanical substance that should be used responsibly by adults who've done their research. Real risks exist, including:

• Potential for dependence with excessive daily use
• Possible interactions with certain medications
• Digestive discomfort in some users
• Quality and purity issues with untested products from unreliable sources

These are legitimate concerns that deserve honest discussion. But they're nothing like the apocalyptic scenarios painted by prohibition advocates.

Responsible kratom users:

• Purchase from reputable vendors with third-party lab testing
• Start with low amounts and adjust based on personal response
• Avoid daily use or take regular breaks
• Don't combine with other substances
• Consult healthcare providers about potential interactions

This balanced approach doesn't make headlines, but it reflects how the vast majority of kratom users actually engage with the botanical.

The Path Forward: Science Over Sensationalism

What would honest kratom policy look like? Pretty straightforward, actually:

Sensible regulation establishing manufacturing standards, testing requirements, and proper labeling—similar to the supplement industry framework that already exists.

Age restrictions keeping kratom away from minors while respecting adult autonomy, just like alcohol and tobacco.

Quality control ensuring products are free from contaminants, properly labeled with alkaloid content, and manufactured in GMP-compliant facilities.

Honest education providing balanced information about both benefits and risks without sensationalism or propaganda.

Research funding supporting actual clinical studies instead of relying on computer models, animal studies, and anecdotal scare stories.

None of this requires prohibition. None of this requires treating adults like children incapable of making informed decisions about their own wellness.

Conclusion: Questioning the Narrative

The next time you see a scary kratom headline, ask yourself a few questions:

• What substances were actually present in this case?
• Who funded this research or advocacy effort?
• What's the comparison being made, and is it honest?
• Are both risks AND benefits being discussed?
• What's the actual scientific consensus versus cherry-picked studies?
• Who profits from prohibition versus regulation?

Kratom propaganda relies on people accepting claims at face value without critical thinking. The botanical has been used traditionally for hundreds of years in Southeast Asia. Millions of Americans use it responsibly. Quality vendors provide lab-tested products with transparent sourcing.

Does that sound like the terrifying menace portrayed in prohibition propaganda? Or does it sound like a botanical that deserves honest regulation rather than fear-mongering elimination?

The anti-kratom crowd would have you believe the sky is falling. But if you actually look up, you'll notice it's still firmly in place—just like it's been for the countless kratom users who've found this botanical helpful in their wellness journey.

Stay informed, question propaganda, and demand honesty in the kratom conversation. Your ability to make informed decisions depends on it.

References

1. Big Easy Magazine. (2025). The Kratom Crossroads: How Louisiana Rejected Science, Compromise, and Choice.
2. FDA. (2018). FDA Orders Mandatory Recall for Kratom Products Due to Risk of Salmonella.
3. CDC. (2018). Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Linked to Kratom.
4. Wouters, O. J. (2020). Lobbying Expenditures and Campaign Contributions by the Pharmaceutical and Health Product Industry in the United States, 1999-2018. JAMA Internal Medicine, 180(5), 688-697.
5. Garcia-Romeu, A., et al. (2020). Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa): User demographics, use patterns, and implications for the opioid epidemic. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 208, 107849.
6. Smith, K. E., et al. (2023). Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa): Pharmacology and use of a naturally occurring atypical opioid. The Oxford Handbook of Opioids and Opioid Use Disorder.
7. Grundmann, O., et al. (2024). An update on the clinical pharmacology of kratom. Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology.
8. Statista. (2024). Leading lobbying industries U.S. 2023.
9. Louisiana Department of Revenue. (2025). New penalties for Kratom in effect Aug. 1.
10. Georgia Wrongful Death Attorney. (2025). Is Kratom Legal in Louisiana? 2025 Louisiana Kratom Laws and Regulations.
11. HKGC Law. (2025). Louisiana Legislature Passes Kratom Ban Amid Growing Health and Legal Concerns.
12. Big Easy Magazine. (2025). The Kratom Crossroads: How Louisiana Rejected Science, Compromise, and Choice.