A physician has issued a warning about the dangers associated with an ‘all-natural’ supplement following the sudden death of a man who had consumed it.
In April 2022, a health-conscious 37-year-old named Jordan McKibban unexpectedly collapsed and died after drinking a lemonade mixed with a supplement that appeared harmless and could be purchased at a gas station.
It was later discovered that he had mixed a tablespoon of powdered kratom into his after-work drink – a supplement marketed as ‘all-natural’ and said to alleviate pain, anxiety, fatigue, depression, and even opioid withdrawal – which ultimately led to his demise.
An autopsy revealed that a compound in the kratom, known as mitragynine, was responsible for Jordan’s death.
His grieving mother, Pam Mauldin, has initiated legal action against the supplement for wrongful death, having been the one to discover his lifeless body.
“I’ve lost my son. I’ve lost my grandchildren that I could have had, I’ve lost watching him walk down that aisle, watching him have a life that I get to watch with my other kids. I’ve lost enjoying these years with him,” she expressed.
“I have to go to the cemetery, and I hate going to the cemetery. He shouldn’t be there.”
Medical professionals are now cautioning against the substance, which is still available for purchase in forms such as powders, capsules, gummies, and energy-style shots in stores and gas stations.
Dr. Michael Greco, an emergency physician in Florida, explained to the outlet that kratom can cause a variety of undesired side effects, ranging from dizziness and sweating to high blood pressure, an increased heart rate, and even psychosis.
Despite these hazardous side effects, critics argue that consumers remain uninformed about the dangers because manufacturers are not legally required to verify the contents of their products.
The Food and Drug Administration has stated that kratom and its components are ‘not lawfully marketed’ in the US as a drug product or dietary supplement.
Pam mentioned that her son was informed it was impossible to overdose on the supplement, while the packaging lacked any significant warnings.
“There have been hundreds of people killed from this, and they don’t pull it. The government doesn’t step in,” she added.
Dr. Robert Levy, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota and an expert in addiction and family medicine, remarked: “There’s always been concern around kratom because if you take enough of it, kratom does act like an opioid, and people can become addicted to it and have withdrawal from it and overdose on it and ruin their lives on it, like anybody else that has a substance use disorder.”
Levy stressed that just because a product is labeled as ‘all-natural’ or ‘plant-based,’ it doesn’t guarantee safety, adding: “Arsenic is also from a plant”
Medical experts are also concerned about a more addictive derivative of kratom, known as 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, which has been emerging in the market and is considered far more ‘problematic.’
In response, the FDA recommended classifying 7-OH as an illegal substance as of July 29 this year, stating in a press release that the opioid ‘can be more potent than morphine’.
“Vape stores are popping up in every neighborhood in America, and many are selling addictive products like concentrated 7-OH. After the last wave of the opioid epidemic, we cannot get caught flat-footed again,” urged FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. “We need regulation and public education to prevent another wave of the opioid epidemic.”
Pam is not alone in her pursuit of justice, as another grieving mother has also filed legal action following the death of her 27-year-old son, Johnny Loring from Ohio, who passed away after consuming the substance.
His system was found to contain fatal levels of mitragynine and gabapentin, a prescription painkiller, at the time of his death.
Jennifer Young revealed she discovered 20 packs of kratom in her son’s room, stating: “The level of kratom shocked me. It overwhelmed me. It made my gut sick. I didn’t realize it was so addicting.”