Fact check
AI analysis“Kratom has been sold in the US for around a decade”
Reasoning
DEA (2016) and FDA (2015) documents confirm kratom has been sold in the U.S. for at least a decade. Earlier records (CBP 2008 seizure, 2004 journal survey) show sales may have begun earlier, suggesting the claim is a conservative estimate rather than false.
On confidence: Multiple primary sources consistently indicate at least ten years of sales, with some evidence of earlier distribution.
Important context
Earliest documented U.S. kratom sales date to the early‑2000s, with a notable increase after 2010; the claim’s phrasing "around a decade" aligns with the minimum confirmed timeframe.
Evidence
Supporting (2)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceDEA: Kratom – A Drug of Concern (2016)
"Kratom has been sold in the United States for at least a decade, primarily through online retailers and smoke shops."
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceFDA Warning Letter to Kratom USA (2015)
"The firm has been distributing kratom products since 2010, with sales increasing through 2014."
Contradicting (2)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceCBP Press Release: Kratom Seizure (2008)
"In 2008, Customs and Border Protection seized 2.5 kg of kratom powder destined for retail distribution in the United States."
- Tier 2 — Independent reportingindependent originMitragyna speciosa Use in the United States (Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 2004)
"Our survey identified twelve individuals in the United States who had purchased kratom as early as 2004."
Contextual (1)
- Tier 3 — Secondary reportingindependent originHouse Committee on Energy and Commerce Hearing: Kratom – Public Health Concerns (2022)
"Witnesses noted that kratom has been available in the U.S. market for roughly fifteen years, predating the recent surge in popularity."
Limitations
Some evidence comes from government agencies (not independent) and the 2004 study surveyed a very small sample, so precise start date cannot be pinpointed, but the overall conclusion remains robust.
- Last verified:
- Sep 26, 2026, 4:29 PM CDT
- Pipeline:
- 0.1.0
- Claim type:
- Factual
Where this claim appeared
What is kratom, the 'gas station heroin' alarming officials in the US?BBC News