Kratom products sold widely in Idaho despite addiction concerns and lack of regulation

BOISE, Idaho — Kratom, a plant-based product promoted as a natural remedy for pain, anxiety, and opioid withdrawal, is sold largely unregulated across Idaho, raising concerns among healthcare professionals and addiction specialists about its safety and addictive potential.

The herbal extract, derived from the leaves of a Southeast Asian tree, can be found in vape shops, smoke shops, and convenience stores throughout Idaho and the country as a whole. These products are easily accessible online as well. Kratom contains two main psychoactive compounds: mitragynine and its more potent alkaloid constituent 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), which bind to opioid receptors in the brain similarly to prescription painkillers.

"It blows me away. It's everywhere," said Trevor Howland, who battled krato