Supplement kratom faces safety concerns: "It's ruining people's lives"
Used in a variety of products — including drinks, pills, powders and brewed tea leaves — kratom is marketed as an energy booster, relaxant and pain reliever.
But it's increasingly blamed for addiction, seizures and in some instances deaths. Kratom is currently banned in six states and Washington, D.C., and at least 18 states have some form of regulation.
"There's a common misperception that because it's plant-based ... it's safe or non-addictive, but for kratom that's absolutely not true," said Matthew Rossheim, who researches intoxicating substances. He said he thinks kratom products are too accessible and lack proper warnings on their labels.
The FDA has warned consumers not to use kratom, citing risks including substance use disorder, seizures and even death, primarily when mixed with other substances like alcohol.
Last week, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans for a crackdown on one kratom compound.
"It's ruining people's lives"
Jasmine Adeoye, 29, tells CBS News she became hooked on a kratom beverage. While quitting alcohol, she says she became addicted to the drink Feel Free Classic, which contains kratom and is manufactured and sold by Botanic Tonics. She said she heard about it on a podcast.
"You're advertised this alcohol alternative, so you feel like it's something totally safe and you start to believe there's something wrong with you when you become addicted to this," she said.
Feel Free, like other kratom-based products, is readily available at many convenience stores, largely without regulation or oversight.
Adeoye is now using social media to warn others.
"There's a lot of people who are struggling in silence and really need help, and it's ruining people's lives for sure," she said.
The American Kratom Association told CBS News that it advocates for regulations that aim to keep dangerous kratom products off the market. This includes labeling requirements and bans on kratom sales to minors.
Kratom-related lawsuits
There have been dozens of wrongful death lawsuits across the country related to kratom.
In 2023, a class action lawsuit was filed against Botanic Tonics, alleging Feel Free was misleadingly advertised as a safe alcohol alternative. Instead, the suit claimed it was highly addictive and marketed to people struggling with sobriety.
Botanic Tonics has since settled the lawsuit. They told CBS News in a statement they "deeply regret any confusion or harm past marketing may have caused" and say they now provide comprehensive information about their products, including intake limits and clear safety warnings.
Global stock markets react to Trump's sweeping tariffs in effect now
Sean "Diddy" Combs wants to go back to Madison Square Garden in the future, attorney says
Why Trump is calling for Intel CEO's immediate resignation
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNET
a few seconds ago
- CNET
Vitamin E: Health Benefits, Food Sources and What to Know Before Using Supplements
You may have noticed vitamin E on the label of your favorite skin-care products. It's a nutrient that can help protect your skin from UV damage, making it a common ingredient for facial sunscreens. But vitamin E isn't just applied topically -- you also need to get it in your daily diet. Consuming enough vitamin E is crucial because it plays a key role in human development and functioning. The vitamin includes eight compounds, but only one of those -- alpha-tocopherol -- is used in the human body. Experts have been debating the pros and cons of vitamin E for many years, so deciding whether to supplement vitamin E in your diet can be confusing. To help, we've done the research for you and found the key takeaways you should know. Here are the potential benefits and drawbacks to consider before adding a vitamin E supplement to your daily routine. What is vitamin E? Vitamin E is a fat-soluble nutrient found in many foods and is important to the human body in various ways. Vitamin E, in the form of alpha-tocopherol, is a powerful antioxidant that works as a free-radical-fighting machine. While it is possible to meet daily vitamin E needs through food, oral and topical supplements are also available. However, supplements should be used cautiously, according to directions and after consulting a doctor. Adding vitamin E to your diet yulka3ice/iStock/Getty Images Nuts, seeds and vegetable oils top the list of the best sources, but vitamin E can be found in many foods. Here are some excellent and versatile food choices to boost your vitamin E. Asparagus Avocado Boiled or raw spinach Dry roasted almonds Dry roasted hazelnuts Dry roasted sunflower seeds Kiwi Mango Peanut butter Pumpkin Red bell pepper Tomato Benefits of vitamin E Vitamin E has been touted as offering many benefits to the human body. Some of those are inconclusive regarding showing true benefit in scientific studies. Here are some vitamin E benefits that have science to back them up. 1. May lower blood pressure High blood pressure (hypertension) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Some studies have shown that supplementing with vitamin E can help lower blood pressure, although the results were not as favorable for those with severe high blood pressure. Although results are mixed on the relationship between vitamin E supplementation and cardiovascular disease, a study that followed 40,000 healthy women for 10 years found that those who supplemented vitamin E had a 24% lower risk of death by a cardiac event. The results were not as positive for those at high risk or who already had heart disease. 2. Fights free radicals Vitamin E is known to battle free radicals and protect cells from their damage; fewer free radicals can mean several good things for the human body. Cellular damage from free radicals increases the risk for various health issues like cardiovascular disease, inflammatory disease, cataracts and cancer. Antioxidants that fight free radicals, like vitamin E, also fight those chronic conditions. A bonus? Vitamin E's contribution to free radical reduction also reduces skin damage from UV exposure. Less skin damage means a more youthful glow, and who doesn't want that? Its anti-inflammatory effects also help to reduce symptoms in chronic inflammatory skin conditions like dermatitis. 3. Can reduce PMS symptoms Around 80% to 90% of women experience some degree of premenstrual syndrome during their reproductive years. For some, PMS is painful and disruptive to daily life. Vitamin E may bring some respite if you are one of the 80% to 90%. Studies show that supplementing vitamin E with vitamin D may be an effective way to reduce PMS symptoms like cramping, anxiety and cravings. Getty Images/Mensent Photography/Moment Drawbacks to vitamin E supplements As with any supplement, vitamin E should be used according to instructions and with caution. Avoid too much of a good thing Being fat-soluble is not a bad thing. But too much of a good thing can quickly turn into a bad thing. Fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin E dissolve in fat, as opposed to water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C. That means that vitamin E can be stored in your body's fat tissues and liver for up to six months. Because most of our vitamin E needs can be met through food, high doses of vitamin E are rarely needed and can cause serious health conditions. You may experience side effects When taken in small doses, vitamin E rarely causes any negative side effects. However, this is not the case for everyone. Here are some side effects to watch out for: Blurred vision Diarrhea Fatigue Headache Nausea Rash Stomach cramps Weakness May cause or worsen certain health conditions Before supplementing or increasing your dietary intake of vitamin E, consider the following health conditions that could be caused or worsened by vitamin E. Prostate cancer : Although further research is limited, a trial study of 35,533 healthy men concluded that dietary supplementation with vitamin E caused a significant increase in prostate cancer. : Although further research is limited, a trial study of 35,533 healthy men concluded that dietary supplementation with vitamin E caused a significant increase in prostate cancer. Heart disease: Although there is no research to suggest vitamin E causes heart disease, some research does suggest that vitamin E may worsen the condition and increase the risk of death by heart attack or stroke. Although there is no research to suggest vitamin E causes heart disease, some research does suggest that vitamin E may worsen the condition and increase the risk of death by heart attack or stroke. Hemorrhage: High doses of vitamin E have been shown to cause bleeding and increase the risk for hemorrhagic stroke. High doses of vitamin E have been shown to cause bleeding and increase the risk for hemorrhagic stroke. Diabetes: Current information supports discouraging people with diabetes from supplementing with vitamin E. May interact with certain drugs If you are taking any prescription medications or supplements, check with your medical provider before supplementing with vitamin E. Vitamin E may counteract the effectiveness of some drugs or supplements like vitamin K, statins, niacin, blood thinners, anti-platelet drugs or even chemotherapy drugs. Can vitamin E be taken daily? For adults, the recommended daily amount of vitamin E is 15 mg. It takes only a small amount of the right foods to reach 15 mg. For example, there is 7.4 mg of vitamin E in one ounce of sunflower seeds and 7.3 mg per one ounce of almonds. Either of those will bring you to around 49% of your daily need for vitamin E. Because vitamin E is so accessible in food, and in this case, more is not better, supplementing is not often needed. However, if you're unable to get the recommended daily amount through food, you should limit your supplementation to 15 mg or less per day to achieve the full benefits of vitamin E. If you're taking any other supplements or drugs, be sure to consult with your medical provider before taking vitamin E.
CNN
30 minutes ago
- CNN
FDA official returns to agency after Loomer-led ouster
Federal agencies ActivismFacebookTweetLink Follow Dr. Vinay Prasad, a controversial critic of the US Food and Drug Administration who took a top role at the regulatory agency in May, has returned to his job weeks after resigning amid pressure from the White House and right-wing activist Laura Loomer. 'At the FDA's request, Dr. Vinay Prasad is resuming leadership of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research,' said Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon in a statement to CNN on Saturday. Nixon did not respond to CNN's inquiry about whether Prasad will also return to his role as FDA chief medical and scientific officer. In late July, Prasad, a hematologist oncologist, said he was resigning because he 'did not want to be a distraction to the great work of the FDA' and had 'decided to return to California and spend more time with his family.' Prasad's departure came amid fresh pressure from the White House for him to resign, according to a person familiar with the matter who was granted anonymity to describe the internal dynamics, and followed days of criticism from Loomer, who has extraordinary access to President Donald Trump. Loomer had taken shots at Prasad on her website and on social media, attacking him publicly for days as a 'progressive leftist saboteur' who was 'undermining President Trump's FDA.' Loomer focused on Prasad's previous social media posts and podcast episodes, where she said he aligned himself politically with liberal politicians and expressed 'disdain' for Trump. Her posts were followed by others from figures including former US Sen. Rick Santorum, who called Prasad 'the man destroying @POTUS legacy for helping patients,' and a Wall Street Journal opinion piece headlined, 'Vinay Prasad Is a Bernie Sanders Acolyte in MAHA Drag.' Prasad had been a vocal critic of some of the agency's drug approvals, as well as the government's response and vaccine policies during the Covid-19 pandemic. Loomer, reacting to the news of Prasad's return in a Saturday post on X, called it an 'egregious personnel decision' and said she planned to '(ramp) up my exposes of officials within HHS and FDA' in the coming weeks. Prasad also drew criticism from former officials and vaccine experts after internal memos from May revealed that he overrode FDA scientists on recommendations for two new versions of Covid-19 vaccines. The then-CBER director rebuked recommendations for broad use of the shots; the FDA eventually approved the vaccines for use in older and immunocompromised people but did not advise them for younger Americans who don't have underlying conditions. CNN's Meg Tirrell, Sarah Owermohle, and Adam Cancryn contributed to this report.
CNN
32 minutes ago
- CNN
FDA official returns to agency after Loomer-led ouster
Dr. Vinay Prasad, a controversial critic of the US Food and Drug Administration who took a top role at the regulatory agency in May, has returned to his job weeks after resigning amid pressure from the White House and right-wing activist Laura Loomer. 'At the FDA's request, Dr. Vinay Prasad is resuming leadership of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research,' said Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon in a statement to CNN on Saturday. Nixon did not respond to CNN's inquiry about whether Prasad will also return to his role as FDA chief medical and scientific officer. In late July, Prasad, a hematologist oncologist, said he was resigning because he 'did not want to be a distraction to the great work of the FDA' and had 'decided to return to California and spend more time with his family.' Prasad's departure came amid fresh pressure from the White House for him to resign, according to a person familiar with the matter who was granted anonymity to describe the internal dynamics, and followed days of criticism from Loomer, who has extraordinary access to President Donald Trump. Loomer had taken shots at Prasad on her website and on social media, attacking him publicly for days as a 'progressive leftist saboteur' who was 'undermining President Trump's FDA.' Loomer focused on Prasad's previous social media posts and podcast episodes, where she said he aligned himself politically with liberal politicians and expressed 'disdain' for Trump. Her posts were followed by others from figures including former US Sen. Rick Santorum, who called Prasad 'the man destroying @POTUS legacy for helping patients,' and a Wall Street Journal opinion piece headlined, 'Vinay Prasad Is a Bernie Sanders Acolyte in MAHA Drag.' Prasad had been a vocal critic of some of the agency's drug approvals, as well as the government's response and vaccine policies during the Covid-19 pandemic. Loomer, reacting to the news of Prasad's return in a Saturday post on X, called it an 'egregious personnel decision' and said she planned to '(ramp) up my exposes of officials within HHS and FDA' in the coming weeks. Prasad also drew criticism from former officials and vaccine experts after internal memos from May revealed that he overrode FDA scientists on recommendations for two new versions of Covid-19 vaccines. The then-CBER director rebuked recommendations for broad use of the shots; the FDA eventually approved the vaccines for use in older and immunocompromised people but did not advise them for younger Americans who don't have underlying conditions. CNN's Meg Tirrell, Sarah Owermohle, and Adam Cancryn contributed to this report.
