The Natural Products Association (NPA) recently responded to the United States Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) decision to add kratom and mitragynine to its list of schedule I drugs.
Dan Fabricant, Ph.D., CEO and executive director of NPA, said, “Kratom has been a public health target for almost five years, and its surging growth in use and availability is an unfortunate but real example of the federal government’s unwillingness to use existing authorities to enforce the law. This is a necessary and welcome step, but unless it is followed with real enforcement and penalties for those who are selling it in coffee bars, on the internet, and elsewhere, it will be toothless. 
“Kratom is not an herbal supplement: it is addictive, harmful, and worse, it may be contributing to America’s opiate epidemic. We are eager to work with the authorities and our members to help turn the tide against Kratom and ensure that it is seen as what the DEA says it is, a schedule I illegal narcotic that has no place in health or wellness.”
For more information, visit www.NPAinfo.org.
