'Buyer beware.' Cincinnati-area coroners warn of kratom-related overdoses
This story was updated with additional information. Three coroners in Southwest Ohio issued a warning Nov. 9 about kratom, an unregulated drug sold in stores, saying there have been 14 suspected overdoses involving the drug in the past several months. Kratom, or kratom alkaloids, is a substance commonly used to boost energy, mood or combat opioid addiction. Stores that specialize in the sale of kratom exist, but Hamilton County Coroner Lakshmi Sammarco said only the leaf form of the substance is legal in Ohio. Butler County Coroner Lisa Mannix, Warren County Coroner Russell Uptegrove and Sammarco said they are seeing a trend of decreasing overdose deaths involving drugs like fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and a combination of those drugs in each of their counties, but they're seeing more kratom. In 2024, the Hamilton County Crime Lab found kratom in three seizure cases, according to data provided by Sammarco. In 2025, kratom was not found in any seizure cases. In 2026, kratom was found in 38 seizure cases. There have been three overdose deaths involving kratom in Warren County and two in Butler County in 2026, according to the coroners. Kratom is concentrated and sold as pills, powders, drinks and gummies in
