Marketed as a natural herbal supplement, kratom acts on the same opioid receptors as morphine and heroin. Here is what the research, law enforcement, and families like Cade's know — that store shelves don't tell you.
Kratom's primary compound mitragynine converts in the body to 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), which binds to mu-opioid receptors — the same receptors activated by morphine and heroin — causing respiratory depression that can be fatal.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement reports that 7-OH is 13 times more potent than morphine. Some enhanced products contain up to 500% more 7-OH than would naturally occur — yet are sold with no warnings.
Independent testing of 20 consumer kratom products found extreme variation in strength. At least one product was compared to "legal morphine" by University of Florida scientists. Consumers have no way to know what they are truly taking.
Kratom has been linked to hundreds of deaths in Florida. Because it is not routinely tested for at autopsy, the true number of fatalities may be significantly underreported. Cade is one of those lives.
Sold in gummies, flavored shots, and ice cream cones, kratom products are designed to appeal to younger consumers. Kratom is widely available in stores frequented by teenagers and young adults with no age verification required.
Reported effects include nausea, hallucinations, tremors, confusion, seizures, difficulty breathing, and psychosis. Poison center calls related to kratom increased 6,500% since 2010, with 14,449 total exposure cases documented over 11 years and 3,434 cases in 2025 alone — a record high.
All data and claims on this website are sourced from peer-reviewed research, government agencies, medical examiner reports, and credible journalism. Sources listed below.