Last month, a documentary entitled The Mysteries of Kratom made its debut on video channel YouTube. The eighty minute documentary investigates the potential of Kratom for addressing the opioid epidemic in America.

The epidemic continues to have a devastating impact on communities across the United States, with over 1.6 million individuals struggling with opioid use disorder and 81,083 overdose deaths reported by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2023.

Produced by Elm City Films, the free-to-view film was created in collaboration with medical researchers from both the United States and Southeast Asia and provides a thorough examination of the much-lauded herbal substance, Kratom.

Kratom is a tree native to Southeast Asia. Advocates believe that consuming the leaves of the tree delivers a range of physical and psychological benefits. The documentary proposes that Kratom consumption may also offer a solution in the fight against the opioid crisis.

Kratom is currently enjoying unprecedented popularity with Americans looking for alternatives to over the counter medications. However, leading organizations differ in their official stance on Kratom.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) acknowledges that Kratom can produce effects similar to both opioids and stimulants. NIDA notes that Kratom and Kratom-based products are currently legal and accessible in many regions, although USA and international agencies are continuously evaluating new evidence to guide Kratom policy.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) takes a different stance on Kratom. It does not recognize any approved uses for Kratom and does not permit it to be marketed in the US as a drug, dietary supplement or food additive in conventional food products.

Despite this, Kratom products made from the dried leaves, including powders, teas, capsules and gummies, are widely available in the United States and are sold online and in physical stores.

At odds with the FDA stance, consumers are using Kratom to treat a wide range of conditions, ranging from simple stomach upsets to chronic pain. Indeed, many individuals report using Kratom with great success to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms and cravings.

The American Kratom Association (AKA), the body responsible for promoting and lobbying for Kratom in the US, asserts that the FDA is putting consumers at risk by failing to properly regulate Kratom. It believes the FDA should assist consumers in understanding the herbal substance while eliminating unreliable products and rogue vendors from the marketplace.

Senior fellow on public policy for the AKA, Mac Haddow, states: “Because the FDA treats all Kratom products as identical, consumers must navigate an increasingly complicated marketplace on their own.”

The FDA continues to issue warnings about Kratom products, which are considered unlawful.

Elm City Films, a non-profit documentary collective which produces mission-driven films for positive societal impact, hopes the documentary will go some way to leveling the playing field for Kratom.

Steve Hamm, director and spokesperson for Elm City Films, said: “Our goal is to advance research and dispel potentially harmful misconceptions about kratom.

“By making this film freely available, we hope to contribute to the ongoing discussion about alternative strategies to address the opioid crisis.”

The full documentary, The Mysteries of Kratom, can be viewed in full here free of charge.