April 11,2025

Title: The American Kratom Association’s Selective Use of Science: A Closer Look at the Misinformation Machine

The American Kratom Association (AKA) positions itself as a defender of consumer freedom and natural health alternatives. But behind its polished rhetoric lies a troubling pattern: the selective use—and misuse—of science to promote a dangerous and unregulated product. While the group claims to be guided by evidence, it routinely ignores or downplays peer-reviewed research that contradicts its narrative. This blog aims to shed light on how the AKA distorts science to protect its industry interests, often at the expense of public health.

1. Cherry-Picking Studies

The AKA frequently cites studies that portray kratom as safe, natural, and even therapeutic, while disregarding a growing body of research highlighting its risks.

For example, AKA highlights a 2019 study from the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence that suggests kratom has a “lower abuse potential” than opioids [1]. What they fail to mention is that the same study also emphasizes that kratom users can develop dependence and withdrawal symptoms—facts that the AKA either buries or omits entirely from public messaging.

At the same time, they ignore toxicology reports and CDC data that clearly show an increase in kratom-related deaths and poisonings. According to the CDC, kratom was detected in nearly 152 deaths between July 2016 and December 2017, with mitragynine—the active compound in kratom—being the only substance detected in 91 of those [2].

2. Distorting the FDA’s Position

The AKA has gone to great lengths to paint the FDA as biased or uninformed when it comes to kratom. They argue that the FDA’s import alerts and warning letters are based on outdated science or a misunderstanding of the plant.

However, the FDA’s position is based on years of toxicological research, pharmacological analysis, and epidemiological data. The agency clearly warns that kratom affects the same brain receptors as opioids and has no approved medical use [3].

Furthermore, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) echoes these concerns, noting that kratom “can cause addiction” and that its safety profile is far from benign [4].

3. Funding Bias in Research

The AKA’s role in funding “kratom-friendly” studies through partnerships or indirect affiliations raises questions about research integrity. In many cases, studies funded or supported by kratom advocacy organizations downplay adverse outcomes and promote anecdotal testimonials over rigorous clinical trials.

A 2021 analysis in Frontiers in Pharmacology warns that kratom research is often skewed by industry influence and underreporting of negative health impacts [5]. This mirrors tactics used by Big Tobacco and the vaping industry, which have long histories of funding research designed to cast doubt on the harms of their products.

4. Ignoring Real-World Harm

Perhaps most disturbingly, the AKA routinely ignores the stories of families who have lost loved ones to mitragynine toxicity. The deaths are real, and they are not just happening in combination with other substances.

The journal Forensic Science International published numerous cases of kratom-only toxicity fatalities, where mitragynine was the sole cause of death based on toxicological findings [6]. The AKA continues to dispute these reports, insisting that kratom alone “cannot kill”—a statement not grounded in scientific consensus.

5. Conclusion: Public Health Must Come First

Science is not a weapon to be used selectively. When organizations like the American Kratom Association cherry-pick data to protect profits, they betray the trust of the public and undermine legitimate science.

We must demand transparency, evidence-based policy, and above all—accountability. Lives are at stake.

Sources:

1. Henningfield, J.E. et al. (2019). “Assessment of Kratom Abuse Potential.” Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2019). “Notes from the Field: Unintentional Drug Overdose Deaths with Kratom Detected.”

3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (2018). “Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on the agency’s scientific evidence on the presence of opioid compounds in kratom.”

4. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). (2022). “Kratom DrugFacts.”

5. Prozialeck, W.C., et al. (2021). “Kratom: Potential Toxicities and Public Health Effects.” Frontiers in Pharmacology.

6. Fluyau, D. et al. (2020). “Fatality Due to Mitragynine Toxicity.” Forensic Science International.