The Roy Howard Community Journalism Center’s “What Is True?” team investigated claims that kratom is not approved by the FDA.

RESULTS: These claims are true.

Kratom is not approved by the FDA. While Mississippi has added age limits and sales restrictions, there is no nationally regulated system to ensure kratom products are tested for safety before they are sold. To learn more, read the full fact-check below.

Health officials continue to raise concerns about kratom, also known as “gas station heroin.” The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that kratom can be addictive and may cause serious side effects, especially when combined with other substances. Deaths have also been linked to kratom, though often involving other drugs, including recent cases in Mississippi.

Kratom is not currently approved by the FDA. In 2025, Mississippi passed a law that limits kratom sales. Buyers must now be 21 or older, and certain high-potency products are restricted. The law also added a 25% tax on kratom products and created penalties for violations.

However, Mississippi does not require full product testing before kratom reaches store shelves. These means products can vary in strength and may contain contaminants such as arsenic and lead. Other states, including Utah and Oregon, require more testing and labeling standards.

Despite the new legal limitations, kratom is still widely available in Mississippi. It is often sold in vape shops, convenience stores and gas stations.

Kratom comes from a tropical tree, Mitragyna speciosa, that is part of the same plant family as coffee. In its native Southeast Asia, the plant’s leaves are used in traditional medicine.

In the United States, however, kratom is sold as powders, capsules and drinks. Some users report it helps with pain, energy or withdrawal symptoms, but these uses are not approved or proven by the FDA.

National Library of Medicine data shows that calls to poison control centers involving kratom have increased sharply in recent years.

About “What Is True?”
The RHCJC “What Is True?” team of graduate investigators examines everything from viral online posts to local community rumors. If you have a question, submit it to the “What Is True?” inquiry form on the RHCJC website or call 855-IS-IT-TRU (855-474-8878).