Kratom-related overdoses are rising: what Mainers should know

Kratom used to be discussed mostly as a plant-based powder or tea. In Maine, that description no longer tells the whole story. Convenience stores and smoke shops now sell capsules, liquid shots, gummies, and products labeled 7-OH, often with no clear way for a buyer to judge their strength.

In June, a Maine Medical Center emergency physician and Northern New England Poison Center toxicologist told Spectrum News that Maine poison-center calls involving kratom had increased by at least 50 percent over the past few years. She also reported more kratom-related emergency-department visits and increasingly potent products. Exact statewide case counts were not available, so that estimate should not be read as a count of confirmed overdoses or deaths.

What happened this week, and what is confirmed?

Kratom returned to Maine headlines on September 24 after two University of Mississippi students were found dead earlier in the week. Packaged kratom products were reportedly found during both investigations. Authorities said there was no confirmed evidence that the deaths were connected, and toxicology had not established that kratom caused either death.

That distinction matters. Finding a product near someone is not the same as proving it caused a death. The responsible conclusion is that the cases prompted a warning while the investigations continue, not that two kratom-caused deaths have been confirmed. Maine station WMTW also reported that the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office warned earlier this month about the increasing availability of 7-OH and similar products in local stores. That was a safety advisory, not a report of a new Maine overdose.

The larger rise is real

The clearest trend comes from national poison-center data. A 2026 CDC analysis found that kratom-related exposure reports rose from 258 in 2015 to a record 3,434 in 2025, an increase of about 1,200 percent. Reports involving multiple substances were associated with the most severe outcomes.

Poison-center reports are not the same as proven overdoses, and they do not show how many people use kratom without calling. They are still an important warning signal: more people are having concerning reactions, and clinicians are seeing a changing product market.

Kratom leaf and concentrated 7-OH are not interchangeable

Kratom leaves naturally contain mitragynine and a much smaller amount of 7-hydroxymitragynine, usually shortened to 7-OH. Both interact with opioid receptors. Some newer tablets, shots, and gummies contain concentrated or manufactured 7-OH at levels far beyond traditional leaf material.

The FDA warns that these concentrated products may be marketed as kratom even though they are not equivalent to ordinary leaf. Packaging can also make strength difficult to compare from one product to the next. Being sold over the counter does not mean a product has been approved as safe or effective.

Warning signs of a dangerous reaction

According to the Northern New England Poison Center, larger amounts of kratom can cause vomiting, marked drowsiness, slowed breathing, hallucinations, and seizures. Smaller amounts may still cause agitation, high blood pressure, or a racing heart.

• Call 911 now: the person is unconscious, cannot be awakened, is having a seizure, or is breathing slowly or irregularly.
• Call Poison Help: the person is awake but vomiting, very sleepy, confused, agitated, or otherwise unwell after taking kratom or 7-OH.
• Do not wait for certainty: the label may not fully describe what was taken, especially with extracts or products used alongside alcohol, opioids, sedatives, or other drugs.

If opioid-type overdose is suspected and naloxone is available, give it and call 911. Naloxone will not harm someone if opioids are not involved, but emergency evaluation is still necessary.

When occasional use has become dependence

An emergency is not the only reason to ask for help. Daily use, needing more for the same effect, failed attempts to stop, hiding purchases, and using just to avoid feeling sick can all point to dependence. Withdrawal may include sweating, agitation, trouble sleeping, weakness, diarrhea, runny nose, muscle discomfort, and strong cravings.

Portland Treatment provides kratom and 7-OH addiction treatment in Maine. Treatment can include an assessment, individual and group therapy, relapse-prevention work, and support for co-occurring anxiety, depression, trauma, sleep, or mood symptoms through dual-diagnosis care.

If withdrawal or other medical risks mean outpatient care is not the safest first step, we coordinate with trusted licensed medical detox providers and help plan the transition back into treatment. Depending on clinical need, that next step may be PHP, IOP, or Virtual IOP from anywhere in Maine.

How to start in Southern Maine

You do not need to decide on a level of care before calling. An admissions conversation can cover what you are taking, how often, whether withdrawal has started, other substances or medications, and what support is available at home. We can also verify insurance before treatment begins.

If kratom started as a way to manage pain, energy, mood, or opioid withdrawal and now feels hard to control, that is enough reason to talk with someone. You do not have to wait for an overdose.

This article is educational and is not medical advice. Call 911 for an emergency. For poison advice in Maine, call 1-800-222-1222.