Over the past few years, a substance known as Kratom has grown in popularity as a legal “opioid-like” substance. Kratom is commonly sold at gas stations, and is marketed to consumers as an all-natural herb that can help with issues such as pain, anxiety, or improving energy. However, this substance has been widely questioned by lawmakers who feel that Kratom is a potentially dangerous substance that should be banned.
As of March 2026, it is now illegal to sell Kratom in Nassau County, on Long Island, New York. Victory Recovery Partners has three outpatient addiction-recovery centers in Nassau County, in addition to a methadone center. With the sale of Kratom being banned in Nassau, we are hopeful that this will have a positive impact on the patients we serve.
If you are unfamiliar with Kratom, you may be wondering, what is this substance that has caused bipartisan support for its removal from store shelves? Kratom is actually a tropical tree commonly found in Southeast Asia. The products that consumers use are derived from the leaves of the tree and can be found throughout much of the US both online and in retail stores. In fact, according to the FDA, millions of Americans have been using the drug since 2021.
Further, the FDA has specifically stated that Kratom can be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening. Liver toxicity, seizures, and substance use disorders can develop from consistent use. To clarify, the FDA explains that there are no FDA-approved Kratom products or over-the-counter drugs available in the US. According to Dr. Deena Adimoolam, Kratom “works on our opioid receptors, so it may be actually working the same way that opioids would work with your pain medication.” This is important, as many patients with substance use disorders involve cases of opioid addictions.
It is crucial that our patients understand the risks associated with Kratom use. The substance, which is no longer legally sold in Nassau County, must be continuously analyzed to determine if the sale of it should be made illegal throughout the US. As further research and testing occur, it will be interesting to see what changes are made in the future in terms of where Kratom can be sold. The key lesson to take from all of this is just because a substance is legal, it does not mean it is safe to use and consume.
Victory Recovery Partners, a network of addiction/recovery centers on Long Island, New York, provides outpatient services to patients who are battling addiction and substance use disorder. By providing total care under one roof, consisting of behavioral health, medication-assisted treatment, psychiatric, and wellness services, we ensure that our motto of “No One Left Behind” holds true each and every day. If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction, Victory would like to help. Please visit our website to learn more about our programs.