Kratom products have been linked to serious injuries and deaths across the country, raising concerns about how they are manufactured, marketed, and sold. Often promoted as natural alternatives for pain relief or other uses, these products can contain powerful compounds that consumers may know little about. The strength and ingredients can also vary considerably from one product to another.
The deaths of two University of Mississippi students have brought renewed attention to kratom safety. According to court documents, toxicology testing detected the same three substances in both students: mitragynine, a compound found in kratom, and two controlled substances, MGM-15 and MGPI. Investigators also found packaging for the same kratom-related product at both locations. The findings have raised concerns about these products, although the substances’ precise role in the deaths has not yet been conclusively established.
For families who have lost someone after using a kratom product, finding answers can be difficult. Understanding what the product contained, how it was marketed, and who sold it may help determine if the death could have been prevented. At Herman, Katz, Gisleson & Cain (HKGC), our attorneys have experience pursuing kratom lawsuits, including filing one of Louisiana’s first kratom wrongful death cases. We work to uncover what happened and hold companies accountable when their dangerous products cause harm.
Kratom Products and Growing Safety Concerns
Kratom comes from the leaves of a tree native to Southeast Asia. Its active compounds, including mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), interact with opioid receptors in the brain. Kratom has been marketed for pain relief, increased energy, and managing opioid withdrawal, although the FDA has not approved kratom products for these uses.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned about serious health risks associated with kratom, including seizures, liver toxicity, and substance use disorder.
Not all kratom products are alike. Traditional kratom leaf products can differ significantly from concentrated extracts and manufactured products containing elevated levels of 7-OH. Some are sold as gummies, tablets, powders, or liquid shots, with labeling that may not clearly communicate their strength or potential risks. Certain concentrated products are also marketed as natural extracts or wellness supplements, despite concerns about addiction, overdose, and other serious health effects.
On October 14, 2026, the Drug Enforcement Administration published a proposal to place certain concentrated kratom-related compounds under stricter federal controls. The proposal targets products containing specified concentrations of 7-OH and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, rather than banning all kratom products nationwide. The restrictions are not yet final, and federal officials have emphasized that products falling below the proposed limits should not be assumed safe.
When Can Kratom Manufacturers and Sellers Be Held Liable?
Companies that manufacture and sell consumer products have legal responsibilities, including complying with applicable safety requirements and providing adequate warnings about known or reasonably foreseeable risks.
In kratom lawsuits, liability may arise from manufacturing defects, contamination, unsafe product formulations, inadequate warnings, or misleading claims about a product’s safety and intended use.
Manufacturers are often the primary focus of product liability claims, but distributors, suppliers, and retailers may also face legal claims based on their actions and the laws that apply.
In Louisiana, the Louisiana Products Liability Act generally governs dangerous product and product liability cases involving manufacturers of unreasonably dangerous products. Other businesses may face different legal standards based on their role in distributing and selling the product.
Investigating a Kratom-Related Injury or Death
Determining whether a kratom product contributed to an injury or death often requires reviewing medical records, toxicology findings, and the product itself. Attorneys may also investigate how the product was used and what information the manufacturer provided about its ingredients and potential risks.
Autopsy and toxicology reports can provide important information, but the presence of kratom compounds in someone’s system does not, by itself, establish the cause of death. Other substances, underlying medical conditions, and possible drug interactions may also need to be evaluated with medical and scientific experts.
Testing the product itself can be equally important. It may reveal discrepancies between the ingredients listed on the label and the product’s actual contents, unexpected potency levels, or potentially harmful contaminants.
Attorneys also examine packaging, warnings, advertising, and other marketing materials to understand what consumers were told about the product. Purchase receipts, lot numbers, and distribution records can help identify the companies responsible for manufacturing and selling it.
How Louisiana’s Kratom Ban Affects Potential Lawsuits
Louisiana banned kratom statewide on August 1, 2025, following growing concerns about its health risks. The law prohibits the possession, production, and distribution of kratom and classifies its primary active compounds, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, as Schedule I controlled substances.
The ban is an important public safety development, but it does not automatically determine the outcome of a civil lawsuit.
People injured by kratom products before the ban took effect may still have grounds for legal action, subject to applicable filing deadlines. Claims involving products sold after the ban must also be evaluated individually, considering when and where the product was sold and which companies were involved.
Seeking Accountability After a Kratom-Related Death
Losing a loved one unexpectedly can leave families facing grief, unanswered questions, and financial uncertainty. When a dangerous product may have contributed to that loss, families deserve to understand what happened and if someone else’s actions played a role.
A wrongful death lawsuit may allow eligible family members to seek compensation when a defective or unreasonably dangerous product causes a death. Recoverable damages may include lost financial support, loss of companionship, and emotional suffering. A separate survival action may also be available for damages the deceased person experienced before death.
At Herman, Katz, Gisleson & Cain (HKGC), we understand that no legal action can undo the loss of someone you love. Our attorneys have spent decades helping individuals and families affected by dangerous products and preventable deaths, and we approach these cases with the care and attention they deserve.
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury or death potentially involving kratom, contact HKGC or call 1-844-943-7626 for a free, confidential consultation.
Other Kratom News
As researchers study a purified kratom compound, concerns about consumer safety, product warnings, and kratom injuries continue to drive litigation nationwide.
Kratom is often marketed as a safe and natural remedy, but growing evidence shows serious health risks. Learn why Louisiana banned kratom, warning signs of injury, and your legal options if you or a loved one has been harmed.
The Louisiana Legislature has passed a ban on kratom. Despite divided opinions, SB154 passed with bipartisan support, reflecting rising concern over kratom’s growing toll on Louisiana residents.
As more local governments in Louisiana and throughout the country realize the dangers of kratom, officials are moving to regulate its use or even ban it altogether.
Those who have lost loved ones to kratom-related fatalities are filing kratom lawsuits against manufacturers and retailers, claiming they failed to warn consumers of the risks.
At HKGC we are deeply committed to seeking justice for families devastated by the dangers of unregulated products like kratom. We recently filed one of the first kratom wrongful death lawsuits in Louisiana.
