Oklahoma state agencies are warning businesses and the public about a new, more potent variation of kratom that has been linked to more than 50 fatal overdoses since January 2022.
Kratom Concerns
Kratom, a plant found in Southeast Asia, is often used to treat pain or ease symptoms of opioid addiction. It is legal to sell in Oklahoma as long as it remains in its natural state and under a certain potency.
However, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics said companies have developed ways to synthesize and strengthen the substance. Mark Woodward, a spokesperson for OBN, stated that there’s a new variation of kratom that’s so much stronger and addictive that’s being sold in gas stations, and warned that stores selling it could face penalties.
The state’s chief medical examiner reported that Oklahoma County ranks second in the state for kratom-related overdoses, with nine deaths since January 2022. OBN is urging anyone who suspects stores of selling the illegal version of kratom to report it to the health department.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
