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New Mexico Department of Justice Warns of Risks Associated with Kratom Products; Encourages New Mexicans to Share Their Experiences

• November 7, 2025

Albuquerque, NM – New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez and the New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) Consumer Protection Bureau are warning New Mexicans about the growing dangers of products containing kratom — a plant-derived substance with reportedly addictive, opioid-like effects. Federal agencies including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have issued similar warnings as kratom products become increasingly accessible and popular among both youth and adults.

Currently, New Mexico has no regulations governing kratom-containing products, even though seven states have banned kratom in some form and 16 others restrict sales to individuals over the age of 18. In New Mexico, these products can be easily purchased at convenience stores, smoke shops, or online.

“The information about kratom’s impact, particularly on young people, is extremely concerning,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “Consumers should understand that these products can have highly addictive effects similar to opioid narcotics. We also want to hear directly from New Mexicans about their experiences with kratom, including those who have already been harmed or sought rehabilitation. Our goal is to ensure families have the facts they need to protect their loved ones.”

While some local communities are beginning to explore measures to address the sale and use of kratom products, Attorney General Torrez emphasized that the NMDOJ serves as the chief consumer protection agency for the entire state and is focused on holding bad actors accountable where necessary. “As a statewide agency, we’re looking at the broader impact on New Mexicans,” said Torrez. “We want to understand how these products are being marketed, how they have and are affecting consumers, and whether any deceptive or predatory practices are contributing to harm. Our responsibility is to protect all New Mexicans, wherever they live.”

Kratom is marketed as a product that boosts productivity, enhances focus, lifts moods and alleviates pain using “clean energy.” Critics of the products however, highlight that kratom can be highly addictive in the way it binds with the same brain receptors as opioids while stimulating chemicals like serotonin.

Some users of kratom products have shared on social media that they reached an addictive point where they were using upwards of 10 kratom drinks per day to stave off withdrawal symptoms. At anywhere between $10-$14 per bottle, the habit became physically and financially crippling – and even led to the need for rehabilitation facilities.

The FDA indicates that kratom is often used to self-treat conditions such as pain, coughing, diarrhea, anxiety and depression, opioid use disorder and opioid withdrawal. The FDA also indicated that an estimated 1.7 million Americans aged 12 and older used kratom in 2021 alone, citing a survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Kratom is not approved by the FDA as a drug product, dietary supplement or food additive. The DEA indicates that risks of using kratom can include:

• Addiction
• Anorexia
• Insomnia
• Withdrawal symptoms such as hostility and aggression
• Psychosis including hallucinations, delusion and confusion
• Overdose
• Death According to the DEA, 586 kratom cases in 2022 resulted in treatment in a healthcare facility. If you or someone you know were in a treatment facility due to kratom use, or have general experience with kratom products, the NMDOJ encourages you to fill out a short form on our website to tell us about it. The form is accessible at NMDOJ.gov/kratom.

For more information about kratom and its associated risks, visit:

• FDA.gov
• DEAdiversion.USDOJ.gov
• MayoClinic.org
• Congress.gov For questions related to form submission, contact the NMDOJ at 505-490-4060.

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