WASHINGTON — Shatterproof, a national nonprofit focused on addressing addiction, has voiced support for Massachusetts’ emergency action to restrict certain kratom products, citing concerns about highly concentrated and synthetic versions of the substance.
The organization said the state’s order is aimed at protecting consumers, particularly young people, from kratom products that may be sold with limited oversight and without age restrictions.
“Massachusetts is taking an important step to address a rapidly evolving marketplace where increasingly potent kratom-related products are being marketed and sold with inadequate safeguards,” said Leah Kaufman, Vice President of Public Policy at Shatterproof.
Kaufman said some products marketed as natural may contain concentrated or chemically altered compounds, and called for stronger product transparency, limits on youth access and restrictions on highly concentrated and synthetic kratom products.
Kratom products are not regulated in the same way as medications in the United States, and their potency, ingredients and purity can vary. Shatterproof noted that health agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, have raised concerns about potential adverse effects associated with kratom use.
The organization said it supports state policies that restrict youth access, improve labeling and transparency, regulate synthetic and concentrated kratom products and expand public education.
Shatterproof also praised Massachusetts for pairing regulatory action with efforts to connect people experiencing substance use problems with prevention, treatment and recovery services.
The group said naloxone should be administered if a person who has used kratom has slowed or stopped breathing. It also pointed to treatment options for people experiencing kratom dependence or withdrawal, including medications, counseling, peer support and behavioral health services.
Shatterproof has advocated for stronger kratom-related consumer protections in several states, including Delaware, Connecticut, Georgia, Ohio, Utah, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, New York and New Hampshire.
The organization said seven of those states have taken regulatory or scheduling actions involving kratom products over the past year.
Shatterproof has also called on federal regulators to further evaluate the safety and potential medical benefits of natural kratom while developing stronger protections for consumers.
The nonprofit said it plans to continue working with state and federal policymakers on measures aimed at limiting youth access to emerging substances, improving product safety transparency and grounding regulation in scientific evidence.
