Opioids
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa)
Street names: Ketum, Thang, Kakuam, Biak
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- Low dose: stimulant energy, focus
- High dose: opioid-like sedation, pain relief
- Mitragynine acts on opioid receptors
⚠Key risks
- Opioid-like dependence and withdrawal (insomnia, muscle aches, irritability, diarrhea)
- FDA links to seizures, liver damage, hallucinations
- Salmonella contamination — 2018 outbreak, 35+ deaths linked to tainted kratom
- Unregulated products — unknown alkaloid content, contamination
- Naloxone DOES reverse kratom overdose (opioid receptor activity)
- Gateway to opioid use for some
✚Overdose signs
- Seizures
- Respiratory depression (high doses)
- Liver injury signs (jaundice, dark urine)
- Hallucinations, confusion
Category comparison — Opioids
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) | Not federally scheduled | Opioid-like dependence and withdrawal (insomnia, muscle aches, irritability, diarrhea); FDA links to seizures, liver damage, hallucinations | ~$10–$30 per ounce powder |
| Heroin | Schedule I | Extremely addictive — physical dependence in weeks; Overdose: breathing slows or stops | ~$10–$40 per bag |
| Fentanyl | Schedule II | Respiratory depression; Addiction in days | ~$20–$40 per counterfeit pill |
| Fentanyl HCl (powder) | Schedule II / analogue prosecutions | Lab-purity powder is far stronger than street mixes; Weighing errors are fatal | ~$60–$120/gram wholesale equivalent |
| Acetylfentanyl | Schedule I | ~5–15× weaker than fentanyl but still deadly at gram-level mistakes; Frequent cause of cluster overdoses | ~$25–$60/g where found |
| Furanylfentanyl (Fu-F) | Schedule I | Linked to hundreds of fatal overdoses 2016–2018; Potency similar to fentanyl | ~$20–$50/g |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) look like?
Green powder, capsules, extracts, liquid shots sold at smoke shops/gas stations
What are the signs of a Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) overdose?
Seizures; Respiratory depression (high doses); Liver injury signs (jaundice, dark urine) Call emergency services immediately and give naloxone if available — it reverses opioid overdoses.
How addictive is it?
Opioid-like dependence and withdrawal (insomnia, muscle aches, irritability, diarrhea) Dependence can develop with regular use.