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DEA wants to add Kratom to list of controlled substances

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This week the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) announced it will add Kratom to the Schedule I list of illegal drugs.

Kratom is an herb that acts as a stimulant in small doses and a sedative in larger doses.

Schedule I includes drugs with a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. The list includes marijuana, heroin, and LSD. 

Right now Kratom is legal in all but six states. The New Hampshire Legislature considered, but ultimately rejected, a ban on Kratom this year. 

According to the DEA, "The consumption of kratom individually, or in conjunction with alcohol or other drugs, is of serious concern as it can lead to severe adverse effects and death." 

The DEA also notes that there is no mechanism to ensure the safety of Kratom products, which vary widely in potency.

Kratom supporters argue that the herb is a safe alternative to opioid painkillers. It can also be used to help opioid addicts recover from addiction.

According to Susan Ash, director of the American Kratom Association, "Any research that’s ever been done has shown that the only time kratom is associated with death is in a poly-drug episode, involving other drugs, whether prescription or illicit." 

UPDATE: Read our Citizen Voices℠ report and find out where New Hampshire stands on this issue.

 

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