There has been an alarming increase in hospitalizations related to the use of kratom, according to a UVA Health analysis.
Calls to poison centers about the drug, widely available in vape shops and gas stations, increased more than 1,200 percent in the past decade, with a corresponding rise in hospitalizations.
There were 233 deaths related to kratom during the 10-year study period from 2015 to 2025, with 184 involving multiple substances.
“The data reflects a concerning trend,” said Chris Holstege, MD, the director of the Blue Ridge Poison Center. “This trend found in the national data is also occurring in our local clinical practice, with more patients presenting to UVA Health following serious complications associated with kratom products.”
Kratom comes from the leaves of a tropical evergreen tree in Southeast Asia, and people have traditionally consumed the leaves for pain relief and mood improvement. It has also been used to help some people with withdrawal symptoms from opioid use. However, kratom is available in the United States in stronger amounts that may lead to health complications.
UVA Health researchers found that calls to poison centers nationwide regarding kratom surged in 2025. In 2025, 60 percent of the multi-substance exposure reports had “serious medical outcomes,” and half required hospitalization, the study found.
“We are experiencing a marked increase in kratom-associated products being sold in the U.S. market,” Holstege said. “We want the public to be aware that these products contain chemicals of varying concentrations such as mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine that have complex pharmacological actions and can cause drug interactions and adverse consequences in humans.”
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Crystal Graham
