THE US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety alert to healthcare professionals and consumers around a harmful unapproved imported botanical substance called kratom.
Kratom is a plant that grows naturally in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
It has gained popularity in the US, with some marketers touting it as a "safe" treatment with broad healing properties.
Proponents argue that it's a safe substance largely because it's a plant-based product, but the FDA points out that kratom has similar effects to narcotics like opioids, and carries similar risks of abuse, addiction and in some cases, death.
Kratom is already a controlled substance in 16 countries, including Australia, two of its native countries of origin Thailand and Malaysia, as well as Sweden and Germany.
It is also banned in several states, specifically Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Tennessee and Wisconsin while several others have pending legislation to ban it.
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