TikTokers Are Sounding the Alarm on Kratom — but What Is It?

Kratom has had an unfortunate entry into mainstream media. Despite being used for centuries in Southeast Asia for its energizing and mood-boosting properties, the herbal substance most recently went viral on TikTok for all the wrong reasons, sparking controversy and an influx of misinformation. But is it really as dangerous as people make it out to be?

When content creator Emmy Hartman first bought a kratom drink back in March 2024, she thought it was as harmless and "fun" as her other non-alchoholic beverages. After noticing a significant improvement in her mood, Hartman decided to share the drink on her social platforms. It was at this point that she started to receive some concerning feedback. "Somebody said, 'Emmy, that is a synthetic opioid,'" she recalls. But what does that even mean? The confusion was evident in the comments section too, with half the people expressing genuine interest and the other half concern.

Since the posting of the original video, several other creators have also come forward about their experiences with kratom drinks, some of which have been positive, and some of which have called kratom downright addictive. To help cut through the noise, we asked kratom experts what kratom actually is, whether it's safe to consume, and why it's so controversial. Read on to find out why kratom gets such a bad rap, with clarity from actual kratom researchers (and a welcome reminder not to take everything you see on TikTok or the corner-store shelves at face value).

Experts Featured in This Article:

Kirsten Smith, PhD, is a kratom researcher and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University.

Christopher McCurdy, PhD, FAAPS, is a medicinal chemist, behavioral pharmacologist, and pharmacist.

Mac Haddow is the senior fellow on public policy at the American Kratom Association.

What Is Kratom?

Kratom is an herbal substance derived from the mitragyna speciosa tree — historically used in Asia for medicinal purposes. That said, there are multiple forms of kratom, and it's important to know how they differ. Although all kratom is derived from the same plant, certain extracts are further removed from the botanical leaf (making them less potent). This can lead to big differences in the overall effect, explains kratom researcher Kirsten Elin Smith, PhD. That said, people still have a tendency to lump all kratom products together, Dr. Smith says.

Generally speaking, kratom can be characterized into two main groups: whole leaf-based products, and extracted products. Here's a quick crash course on both:

Kratom drinks — like the one discussed in the viral TikTok — are all different. Most use kratom leaf extracts, but others use kratom powders, or even a combination of the two. Either way, knowing which type of kratom they use is relevant to the potency and effects you'll feel from the drink. Some kratom products might give you a subtle mood boost, while others elicit something much stronger. "People claim that it gives you this enhanced mood and energy at low doses," says pharmacologist Christopher McCurdy, PhD, FAAPS. Higher amounts may produce more of a sedative effect. "Some individuals even say that you can get a legal high or euphoric effects if you take a tremendous amount of it," Dr. McCurdy says.

What Is Kratom Used For?

Historically, kratom has been used for a myriad of medicinal purposes. Some of the most notable include pain relief and increased energy, Dr. Smith says. "Individuals that benefit from it say it helps with their energy, it helps with their mood, it helps with some mild pain relief," adds Dr. McCurdy. "It also helps with attention or focus, in some cases."

In the US, kratom has also been used as a harm-reduction tool, especially for people trying to get off opioids or decrease their alcohol consumption. In her own research, Dr. Smith has seen kratom used as a general mood improvement or replacement for people looking to get off opioids, quit drinking, or cope with mental health conditions like PTSD and ADHD. On a pharmacological level, this is likely due to the fact that kratom produces both a (mild) euphoric and stimulatory effect.

Side Effects of Kratom

According to Dr. Smith, the biggest side effects of kratom include GI upset (such as nausea and vomiting) and the risk of physical dependence (which is characterized by tolerance and withdrawal). Overconsumption of kratom can also impact the body in more serious ways. "When [people] take too much, it generally looks like too much of a stimulant," Dr. McCurdy explains. This can cause the following adverse effects, according to Dr. McCurdy and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA):

Again, this is typically only seen with large amounts of kratom, which is why it's so important to pay attention to how much you're consuming. That said, in a safety study conducted by the FDA, "there were no serious adverse events that would have led to hospitalization or treatment," says Mac Haddow, senior fellow on public policy at the American Kratom Association. In fact, this pilot study suggested that kratom is generally "well tolerated."

Is Kratom Considered an Opioid?

Kratom is not considered an opioid, but it's easy to see where the confusion lies. In the first US case report about kratom (published in 2007), many of the initial users were chronic pain patients looking to lessen their pain or find a mood-boosting substitute for opioids. However, that does not make kratom an opioid itself, as some people on social media have claimed.

"The plant is not an opioid, but rather a very, very, very pharmacologically complex and diverse leaf," Dr. Smith says. While it is a partial agonist at opioid receptors (meaning it can be used to treat pain), it is weakly binding, and does not produce a full response the way actual opioids do. Dr. McCurdy agrees, saying that kratom is far from a synthetic opioid. "It's not synthetic at all. It is a natural product. It's derived from the leaves of the tree," he explains. The fact that it's sometimes used for harm reduction purposes could account for some of this misinformation.

So What About Those Kratom Drinks?

Kratom drinks are gaining popularity, popping up in corner stores and gas-station aisles — but are they safe to consume? More research is needed before experts can give a definitive answer. "I can't even say that the leaf material products are safe to use because we don't have any studies to scientifically say that," Dr. McCurdy says. A knowledgeable consumer who uses kratom in moderation is very different from a person who drinks an entire kratom shot without knowing anything about it. "If someone was experimenting with [kratom] for the very first time, I would never say start with a shot," Dr. McCurdy says.

Kratom drink brands should also be labeling their products responsibly. Often times, kratom extract can be found next to the energy drinks at the gas station which is incredibly dangerous, per Dr. McCurdy. "Someone is just going to come in here thinking: 'Oh, this must be like five hour energy,'" he says. But that's simply not the case. Dr. Smith adds that kratom drinks can include other psychoactive botanicals (like kava, caffeine, and CBD), which can affect the overall risk profile. If you're taking any other substances or medications, this can also affect your risk, Dr. Smith says. Ultimately, kratom drinks aren't the synthetic opioids TikTok says they are, but more research is needed before we can say the drinks are totally safe for recreational use.

Can You Get Addicted to Kratom?

While Dr. Smith knows that legitimate kratom addiction exists, her research shows that most of the adverse effects have to do with physical dependence. "By physical dependence, I mean symptoms of tolerance, or using kratom to avoid withdrawal, or experiencing withdrawal if you were to stop taking it," Dr. Smith says. For people who use kratom "conservatively and responsibly," Dr. McCurdy says "[they] claim that withdrawal is like if they miss their morning coffee. They have a headache and they're crabby." For people who use kratom more often or in larger amounts, these symptoms may feel more extreme. Still, this is very different from addiction.

"We know for sure that if you take kratom every single day, you'll develop tolerance and withdraw," Dr. Smith says. "Now the question is: is it life-interrupting or impairing?"

On an anecdotal level, some people do say their experience with kratom evolved from physical dependence to addiction. In a June 2024 TikTok, creator Jasmine Adeoye explains that, after becoming sober from alcohol, she picked up a kratom drink as a non-alcoholic alternative. "Slowly but surely I started taking one of these shots every single day," Adeoye says. Gradually that turned into two a day . . . then four . . . then as many as nine kratom drinks daily. "I've never depended on something like that in my entire life," Adeoye says.

To this end, Dr. McCurdy says more research is needed. "We know that for sure [kratom] causes physical dependence, but I also believe it's causing addiction in certain individuals," he says. That doesn't mean kratom needs to be villainized or written off completely, but the conversation is nuanced, and consumers deserve to know what they're getting themselves into — especially if they're just looking for a fun drink at the gas station. "It comes down to how people are using the products," Dr. McCurdy says. "We always say less is more, and it seems like lower amounts of this are definitely safer."

The Bottom Line

Kratom is a complex and powerful plant that isn't all good or all bad. It carries some legitimate benefits, but there are some risks to be aware of too — especially if it's consumed irresponsibly or without the proper information."Like any other substance — alcohol, tobacco, anything you use — you want to do it in moderation and use it responsibly," Haddow says.

"I think it's important that there is proper labeling and in the case of a kratom bar, that there are appropriate descriptions of the product that they're purchasing for consumption," Haddow says. That includes the appropriate serving size to be consumed in a day. Until these kinds of regulations are made, it's important to approach kratom cautiously.

If you're looking for a fun drink to stock up on every day, kratom probably isn't the best choice, given the physical dependency risks. That said, if you want to try a kratom beverage or gummy, consider a consult with a nutritionist or MD, check the labels, adhere to the recommended serving size, and take frequent breaks. As Dr. McCurdy says: less is more.

Chandler Plante (she/her) is an assistant health and fitness editor for PS. She has over four years of professional journalism experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributing to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group.