The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued warnings to two companies – North Carolina-based KratomNC and California-based Cali Botanicals – for making illegal and unproven marketing claims that their products, containing a drug called kratom, can help with treating and curing addiction and withdrawal symptoms.
Kratom, a herbal extract that doesn’t grow in the US, is not FDA-approved. In small doses, kratom acts as a stimulant, but in larger doses, it works on the same neural receptors as morphine and is potentially just as addictive.
Dr. Ned Sharpless, the acting FDA Commissioner, said: “Despite our warnings, companies continue to sell this dangerous product and make deceptive medical claims that are not backed by science or any reliable scientific evidence. As we work to combat the opioid crisis, we cannot allow unscrupulous vendors to take advantage of consumers by selling products with unsubstantiated claims that they can treat opioid addiction or alleviate other medical conditions.”
The FDA said that the two companies also claimed that their kratom products can treat anxiety, depression, cancer, and other conditions.
Here is what KratomNC say on their website: “Here is just some of what our customers have used kratom to treat: Chronic Pain, Migraines, Opiate Addiction, ADHD/ADD, Anxiety, Depression, Arthritis, Insomnia and much more!”
The FDA said that the two companies have 15 working days to correct these violations.
Related: The FDA Proposes New Rules for Opioids to Make Drugs Less Addictive
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