Kratom is legal, easy to buy and sitting on shelves in smoke and vape shops across Amarillo.
That doesn’t necessarily mean it is harmless.
The Amarillo Police Department is warning residents about the potential dangers of kratom after three deaths last month in which investigators suspect the substance was used along with other substances. Toxicology results are still pending, so it would be premature to say kratom caused those deaths.
But three deaths potentially involving the same readily available substance should be enough to get the community’s attention.
Kratom is derived from a tropical plant native to Southeast Asia and is sold in several forms, including pills, powders and liquids. According to APD, buyers must be at least 21.
At lower amounts, kratom can have stimulant-like effects. At higher amounts, it can produce effects similar to opioids. That second part should make anyone considering using it think twice, particularly when kratom is combined with alcohol or other drugs.
APD homicide Lt. James Clements said kratom was introduced in the United States as an herbal supplement and was often promoted for energy. It has since become widely available in smoke and vape shops in Amarillo and throughout Texas.
The concern is what can happen when people assume that because something is legal and sold over the counter, it must also be safe.
Legal does not mean risk-free.
Clements said APD has seen kratom use among younger people and warned that using large amounts or combining it with alcohol or other drugs can be dangerous and potentially fatal.
That warning deserves attention, especially after what Amarillo police encountered last month.
Investigators are looking into three deaths in which they believe kratom had been consumed along with other substances. Clements said kratom packaging was found at the scenes and witnesses reported that those involved had used kratom, including reports of daily use.
Still, there is an important distinction that should not get lost: APD does not yet know whether kratom caused those deaths.
“We’re still waiting on autopsy results. Of course, toxicology takes sometimes several weeks up to a month,” Clements said.
That uncertainty matters. There is a major difference between a substance being present at a death scene and that substance being responsible for a death. The toxicology results should provide investigators and the public with a clearer picture.
But Amarillo shouldn’t have to wait for those results to start talking about kratom.
Consumers deserve to understand what they are buying, what the potential effects are and how dangerous mixing substances can become. Parents should also know that kratom exists, that it can be purchased legally by adults and that police are concerned about its use among younger people.
And retailers selling kratom should take seriously their responsibility to follow age restrictions and make sure customers aren't being given the impression that "herbal" automatically means safe.
Because kratom is legal in Texas, APD says possession itself does not result in criminal charges. That makes education and awareness particularly important.
There is no reason to panic or declare kratom responsible for deaths before investigators have the evidence to support that conclusion. There is equally little reason to shrug off APD's warning simply because the substance can legally be purchased at a local shop.
The responsible position is somewhere between those extremes.
Wait for the toxicology results. Follow the evidence. But in the meantime, make sure Amarillo residents understand that a legal product capable of producing opioid-like effects — particularly when used heavily or mixed with other substances — deserves to be treated with caution.
If the deaths under investigation ultimately are linked to kratom, Amarillo will face bigger questions about awareness, regulation and how these products are sold.
