36 deaths by herb used to kick opioids

THE FOOD and Drug Administration issued a health advisory Tuesday about the use of kratom, a herbal supplement known to ease the side effects of opioid withdrawals that’s linked to 36 deaths.

The FDA’s cautioning comes after the Drug Enforcement Administration’s delay in listing kratom, a plant found in countries like Thailand and Malaysia, as a controlled substance. The supplement is sold in smoke shops and as a powder for brewing tea to ease drug withdrawal symptoms, but the FDA said it has addictive characteristics of its own.

“Evidence shows that kratom has similar effects to narcotics like opioids and carries similar risks of abuse, addiction and in some cases, death,” the FDA warned.