Indiana Coroner’s Office Seeing More Deaths Tied to This Natural Supplement

Why Natural Does Not Always Mean Safe

I love natural remedies. If I can avoid taking a synthetic pill by changing my diet or adding something generally considered safe like fish oil or saffron, I am going to try that first. But I am also extremely careful about not just what supplements I take, but the brands I choose.

Just because something is natural does not mean it is harmless. Deadly nightshade is natural. So is poison ivy. That does not mean you want either anywhere near your body.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the FDA does not approve dietary supplements for safety or effectiveness before they are marketed. Instead, they are regulated more like food under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. Manufacturers are responsible for ensuring safety, and oversight typically happens after products hit the market through surveillance, voluntary recalls, and adverse event reports.

Get our free mobile app

How Supplements Are Regulated in the U.S.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration states that supplement companies are responsible for having evidence that their products are safe and that label claims are truthful and not misleading. However, unless a product contains a new dietary ingredient introduced after October 15, 1994, companies do not have to provide that safety evidence to the FDA before selling it.

That means quality control matters. Reputable supplement companies often use third-party testing to verify purity and dosage, because there is no central governing body double-checking every bottle on the shelf.

Organizations that offer independent quality testing include:

• ConsumerLab.com
• NSF International
• United States Pharmacopeia

Even then, because supplements are not typically dispensed through a pharmacy, there is still risk for medication interactions and side effects. It is important to research possible interactions and talk with your doctor about everything you are taking.

What to Know About Kratom

One natural supplement growing in popularity is kratom.

Kratom is often used to self-treat pain, cough, diarrhea, anxiety, depression, opioid use disorder, and opioid withdrawal. But according to the FDA, it is not considered safe or appropriate for use as a dietary supplement.

The FDA has concluded that kratom is a new dietary ingredient for which there is not enough information to reasonably assure it does not pose a significant risk of illness or injury. It also considers kratom an unsafe food additive when added to conventional foods. Because of these determinations, kratom cannot be lawfully marketed as a dietary supplement or added to food.

Though it is banned in many countries, kratom remains federally legal in the United States. However, legality varies by state and even by county or city. It is illegal in Indiana. In Kentucky, it is generally legal for adults 21 and older, but it is regulated, and certain concentrated or synthetic derivatives have recently been banned.

Warrick County Coroner Warning

According to the Warrick County Coroner’s Office, mitragynine, the active compound in kratom, is showing up more frequently in post-mortem toxicology reports in Warrick County and surrounding Indiana counties.

The office warns that kratom is often marketed as a natural product for pain relief, energy, mood, or opioid withdrawal. However, it can cause dependence, serious health effects, and overdose. Some newer concentrated forms such as 7-OH can produce opioid like toxicity.

Kratom remains illegal in Indiana, yet it is easily accessible across state lines and is often sold in gas stations and stores as gummies, pills, powders, and drinks.

Their message to families is simple and direct. Natural does not mean safe.