East Tenn. groups, lawmakers push to ban kratom

This article has been updated to change terminology around kratom. You may see it on a nearby neon sign, the words "KRATOM SOLD HERE" flashing brightly. The compound, also called "gas station heroin," is sold in many local shops. Kratom products come from a tree native to Southeast Asia and act as a stimulant in low doses and a sedative in high doses. There is debate on whether it can be used as an effective treatment for opioid withdrawal or other ailments. It's also facing opposition from state legislators and local groups. Christy Smith, director of the Unicoi County Prevention Coalition, said there needs to be more education about the risks of kratom. She worries that overdoses, poisoning and usage will increase if there isn't. "If the kids start knowing more about kratom and what (the) effects of kratom are, then are we going to see more independent vape stores sell it? Or the child get someone over the age of 21 to go in and get it?" she said. Overdoses are rare using kratom on its own, according to American Addiction Centers, a network of addiction treatment facilities across the U.S. But dangerous side effects can occur when combined with alcohol or drugs. Smith sits on the kratom board for the Prevention Alliance of Tennessee, a public health nonprofit dedicated to reducing substance use. She said the statewide coalition is an advocate for the "Matthew Davenport" bill, legislation that would ban the possession, sale and manufacturing of kratom products across Tennessee. It's named for a young Chattanooga man who died after an interaction between doctor-prescribed medicine and kratom, according to bill sponsor Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes, R-East Brainerd. The bill is currently assigned to a Tennessee House subcommittee. The Senate version of the current bill, sponsored by Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, is also in committee. In an emailed statement, Helton-Haynes said concern from families, health professionals and community members "highlight a clear need for action." Last year, the representative passed a resolution supporting "the strictest state regulation" of kratom with nearly unanimous support in both the state House and Senate. It was signed by Gov. Bill Lee in May. Certain ingredients, which are 13 times more potent than morphine, are already illegal in Tennessee kratom products. Kratom is also only legal for people 21 and older and requires labeling that warns consumers to not combine products with alcohol or medication. State Rep. Joe Towns Jr., D-Memphis, has a different approach to the issue. His bill, known as the "Tennessee Kratom Consumer Protection Act," would add regulations to kratom products but not ban it. Nineteen other states have passed similar laws, including nearby Virginia and Kentucky. Towns said he sponsored the legislation because he's seen it help people get off of hard drugs and get their life back. While he wants legislation to help control "bad actors" in the business, he also wants people to have access to it if it helps them. "I try to let it be regulated properly and let it exist for those who need it," he said. "For those who don't need it, don't touch it." For her part, Smith will still educate people locally. She said her group will teach retail stores more about the kratom. "You have so many different vape shops in this region carrying it," she said, adding that many stores "don't even know, half of them, what it is."