Van Law Firm Now Helping Kratom Injury Victims

Van Law Firm Now Helping Kratom Injury Victims

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. In recent years, proponents have plugged kratom as an herbal remedy for numerous physical and mental ailments. Among other things, they back its use for the treatment of depression, anxiety and chronic pain. 

Apparently, a lot of people believe them. As indicated by statistics cited in a National Geographic article published in June 2024, roughly 2 million Americans used  kratom in 2021. That may be because it’s relatively easy to get in the United States. In fact, users here can find it at  gas stations, convenience stores, and online.

That’s not to say its use is universally accepted, however. In fact, it is reportedly banned in several states. Furthermore, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has warned against kratom use due to risk of serious injuries. These include but are not limited to liver damage, seizures, and substance use disorder (“SUD”). Some deaths have also been documented.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with kratom-induced injuries, or if a loved one died after taking kratom, Van Law Firm may be able to help you pursue legal recourse.

What Is Kratom?

According to the Mayo Clinic, kratom is an herbal extract made from mitragyna speciosa leaves. Mitragyna speciosa is an evergreen tree belonging to the coffee family. It can be found in  Southeast Asia and Africa.

In a Cleveland Clinic Q &A, Dr. Yufang Lin explained that kratom is not a new discovery. In the past, she said, people drank kratom tea or chewed kratom leaves for medicinal purposes or as a stimulant. People have also used it instead of opium, and used it in religious ceremonies, she said.

Today, kratom is taken in pills, capsules, powders or even drinks, Linn added. Regardless, two of its primary ingredients remain the same. These are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, which  are known to interact with the opioid receptors in the human brain.

When taken in moderation, kratom increases alertness, Lin said. When users take higher doses, however, they may experience decreased pain, pleasure, or sedation, she explained.

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Why Is Kratom Use Risky?

Taking kratom can be risky because users don’t know exactly how much mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine they are ingesting.

“Some studies have found that some kratom sellers add more of the active ingredient than kratom naturally has,” the Mayo Clinic states in an online article. Lack of accurate labeling only complicates matters, according to the organization.

The Mayo Clinic also notes that users start to feel its effects in minutes, but the effects only last for a few hours. The amount taken dictates the strength of the effects.

“Depending on the amount of active ingredient in the product and the health of the user, taking kratom can be harmful,” the clinic asserts in the article.

Then there are the hazards that aren’t associated with kratom’s active ingredients.  According to the Mayo Clinic article, heavy metals such as lead  have been found in some kratom products. Salmonella, which is potentially fatal, has also been found in some kratom products.

Be Aware Of These Kratom Side Effects

The known side effects of kratom include:

• Tremors and seizures
• Heart Failure
• Lung hemorrhage
• Respiratory failure
• Liver damage

But that’s not all. Additional side effects include dizziness, constipation, muscle pain, high blood pressure, sleepiness, hallucinations, delusions and depression. Difficulty breathing, dry mouth, nausea and vomiting, and weight loss may also occur. Some may have been hospitalized or even died from these symptoms or overdose. 

Some deaths have also been attributed to kratom use, according to the Mayo Clinic. Nearly all of them “also involved other drugs or substances that might have been harmful,” according to the clinic.

Kratom dependence following prolonged use is another possibility. One study conducted to determine whether kratom is an effective treatment for opioid withdrawal reportedly found that people who took it for more than six months experienced withdrawal symptoms similar to those from opioid use. Kratom users who develop a craving for the herbal extract may need treatments given for opioid addiction, the Mayo Clinic article states.

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Government And Legal Actions Taken Against U.S. Kratom Distributors

Kratom use in the United States has been on the government’s radar for some time. As we have already noted, Kratom is prohibited in several states. 

In 2019, the FDA sent warning letters to two marketers and distributors of kratom products – Cali Botanicals of Folsom, California, and Kratom NC of Wilmington, North Carolina. According to the agency, it issued the warnings for “illegally selling unapproved, misbranded kratom-containing drug products with unproven claims about their ability to treat or cure opioid addiction and withdrawal symptoms.” The companies also make claims about treating pain, as well as other medical conditions like depression, anxiety and cancer, the FDA said.

In a June 2019 press release concerning the warnings, the FDA also noted that, “These products have not been demonstrated to be safe or effective for any use and may keep some patients from seeking appropriate, FDA-approved therapies.” The agency also said that  selling these unapproved products with false and misleading claims is a violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

As of 2020, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) also identified it as a drug  and chemical of concern. However, it was not subject to the Controlled Substances Act at that time. The agency had announced plans in 2016 to place mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine – the active materials in the kratom plant — into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, citing “an imminent hazard to public safety.”

More recently, the U.S. Department of Justice reportedly announced that the U.S. Marshals Service and  FDA investigators seized more than $3 million in kratom from Botanic Tonics LLC. According to published reports the items seized were 250,000 liquid bottles, a tank of liquid product, more than 1,200 cartons of capsules, and more than 1,000 kilograms of bulk powder kratom.

Numerous individual and class action lawsuits have also been filed against kratom makers and sellers/distributors. These include both personal injury and wrongful death cases, based on consumer protection statutes, alleging negligence, breach of implied warranty, fraud, unjust enrichment and failure to warn of liability.

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Contact Van Law Firm About Your Kratom Injury Or Wrongful Death Case Today

If you suffered any of the injuries detailed in this article after taking kratom, or if a loved one died after taking it, Van Law Firm may be able to help. During your initial meeting, we will assess your unique circumstances to determine whether you have a viable case. If so, we will go over your options for legal recourse so you can make an informed decision. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with one of our skilled and knowledgeable personal injury lawyers today.