A community in Georgia is still shocked after several middle schoolers ingested kratom gummies, some of whom were hospitalized. All have recovered, but the dangers of unregulated kratom products have once again been thrust into the spotlight, alongside numerous wrongful death and defective products lawsuits involving the herbal extract.
On October 30, 2025, emergency crews were called to Saddle Ridge Elementary and Middle School when five 8th-grade students got sick. Initially, the cause of their illness was unknown beyond that the students had consumed gummies. It was later determined that they were kratom gummies, but further investigation revealed they did not contain natural kratom; the gummies contained illegal concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), an opioid compound, at a much higher dose than what’s naturally present in the leaves.
Sadly, this is not the first time a child has gotten sick from kratom. In August, a two-year-old child at a daycare center in Mableton, Georgia, required Narcan after eating a kratom tablet containing 7-OH. The pill fell off the shelf that a daycare worker had placed it on, and after the toddler ate it, they became unresponsive and needed Narcan. The worker was charged with second-degree cruelty to children.
After this happened, it was learned that the manufacturer of 7Tabz, the pill the child ingested, was one of seven companies that received a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July. The FDA informed 7Tabz that they were illegally marketing their product.
The addition of large amounts of concentrated synthetic 7-OH, inadequate labeling, and a lack of warnings on kratom product packaging have caused serious harm to consumers. Liver damage, respiratory issues, and seizures are some of the reported health effects, and even fatal kratom overdoses have occurred due to high levels of 7-OH present in the products.
What is Kratom and How Is It Used in the U.S.?
Kratom is derived from the leaves of a type of evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. In the U.S., kratom products are frequently marketed as an herbal supplement with effects that are nearly immediate and can last for hours. While the leaves have been widely used as natural medicine in Southeast Asia, there’s a big difference between how they’re consumed there and the types of products being sold in the U.S.
Consumers who use kratom in small doses have stated it helps relieve pain, anxiety, and depression, boosts energy, and alleviates opioid withdrawal symptoms. But kratom products that contain concentrated synthetic 7-OH can mimic an opioid high, ultimately leading to addiction and other serious health effects.
The Mayo Clinic lists many known side effects of kratom, including:
- Nausea and vomiting
- High blood pressure
- Delusions
- Liver damage
- Dizziness
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Respiratory issues
The FDA has stated it’s against the law to put concentrated synthetic 7-OH into supplements and foods, yet these products continue to be easily and readily available online, at gas stations, bars, vape shops, and retail stores. There is no FDA-approved drug that contains the concentrated synthetic 7-OH compound.
Products being touted as kratom but have 7-OH don’t list the ingredient or the dose on packaging, nor do they warn consumers. However, people are experiencing addiction, organ damage, and fatal overdoses, indicating there are clear health risks. And so far, the outcomes of many kratom lawsuits have favored plaintiffs and their families who have been harmed, showing that manufacturers have violated consumer product laws.
Kratom Lawsuits Mounting in the U.S.
Manufacturers of many kratom products are marketing their candy, drinks, and tablets as herbal supplements when they actually contain concentrated levels of synthetic 7-OH, an opioid compound. The doses found in products involved in wrongful death lawsuits are often hundreds of times stronger than what’s naturally present in kratom leaves.
The first kratom lawsuit was filed in 2018. Since then, there have been dozens of wrongful death cases, some of which are still ongoing. A notable trial verdict in a kratom wrongful death lawsuit in December 2023 awarded $11 million to the plaintiffs. Earlier that year, a $2.5 million verdict was awarded to the surviving family of someone who died after taking kratom.
The Basis of Kratom Lawsuits
Kratom lawsuits allege that manufacturers failed to warn consumers of the risks associated with their products and didn’t list ingredients or provide instructions for safe use. Because of this, plaintiffs allege they became addicted and suffered other serious health effects. In some cases, people have died from high levels of 7-OH present in certain kratom products.
Many consumers believed kratom was a safe and natural alternative to other painkillers like opioids, but they became addicted anyway. As access continues to be far easier than it should, more and more people are being put at risk; there’s a high risk of misuse of kratom products and a lack of public understanding of the dangerous health effects.
The kratom lawsuits have sparked concerns and scrutiny about why there aren’t strict federal regulations – and why the government hasn’t intervened. While some states have banned or regulated kratom products, there’s no federal ban, and the FDA has not classified it as a drug.
If you’ve suffered health problems after taking a kratom product, contact the defective product and wrongful death lawyers at Childers, Schlueter & Smith online or at 1-800-641-0098 for more information or a free case consultation.
