Dauphin County Coroner Graham Hetrick held a news conference issuing a stern warning to the public regarding the unregulated herbal supplement kratom, calling for stronger oversight and awareness after linking the substance to multiple recent local deaths.
Among the victims was a promising college student and former intern of Hetrick’s, whose death deeply underscored the potential fatality of the substance.
“He was just a straight-A student… I thought he had the brightest future,” Hetrick said. “He passed away. All that future is gone.”
Kratom—derived from the leaves of a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia—is widely sold over the counter at local convenience stores, gas stations, and smoke shops. Often marketed as a safe, natural remedy for pain, anxiety, or opioid withdrawal, the supplement acts as a stimulant in small doses and produces opioid-like effects in larger quantities.
Because kratom is not approved or regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are no standardized rules governing its dosage, purity, or labeling. As a result, potency can fluctuate wildly from batch to batch.
Key concerns highlighted by officials include users can quickly build tolerance and dependence, suffering painful withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop, combining kratom with other prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs drastically increases the risk of fatal toxicity.
Coroner Hetrick stressed that public awareness and legislative action are urgently needed to prevent further tragedies. Pointing out that seven states have already banned kratom, Hetrick voiced his hope that Pennsylvania would follow suit.
“The public deserves to know that a product marketed as a safe herbal supplement… carries the pharmacological profile of an opioid, and has been linked to deaths in the community,” Hetrick emphasized. “The bodies accumulating in my office are the consequence of inaction.”
Health officials urge parents, doctors, and community members to initiate open conversations about the risks associated with unregulated herbal supplements before more lives are lost.
