The Hidden Risk in “Natural” Kratom: Lives Lost, Families Left Behind
On store shelves in towns across the U.S., kratom appears harmless — sold in powders, gummies, or brewed drinks, labeled as “all-natural” and easily affordable. Yet beneath its innocuous packaging lies a danger that too many underestimate.
This plant-derived supplement has taken lives and left grieving families searching for answers. Two mothers are now speaking out, sharing the devastating impact it had on their sons.
Jordan McKibban, 37, of Washington state, was living a life full of purpose — cooking for his blended family, planning a future with his girlfriend, and quietly helping friends whenever he could.
One April afternoon in 2022, after stirring kratom into his lemonade following a day at work, he collapsed in his bathroom and never woke up. His mother, Pam Mauldin, recalls the frantic moments trying to revive him and watching first responders carry him away — a heartbreak that changed her family forever.
Though kratom is native to Southeast Asia and marketed as a natural solution for pain, anxiety, or depression, its main compound, mitragynine, can mimic opioid effects. It can trigger addiction, overdose, and death. Despite warnings from the FDA, kratom remains widely available in stores, online, and even at gas stations — frequently without clear instructions or safety labels. Mauldin emphasizes the deception: her son was told overdosing was impossible.
Experts warn that some kratom varieties, particularly 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), are far more potent and dangerously addictive. Dr. Robert Levy of the University of Minnesota stresses, “Plant-based does not automatically mean safe — arsenic is also from a plant.”
In Columbus, Ohio, Jennifer Young experienced a similar heartbreak. Her 27-year-old son, Johnny Loring, began using kratom to cope with anxiety and stay alert at work. When he started having seizures, neither his mother nor his doctors suspected the supplement.
Weeks later, he collapsed during a family mushroom-hunting outing. A toxicology report confirmed lethal levels of mitragynine alongside gabapentin. Discovering dozens of kratom packets in his room, Young was confronted with the stark reality of its danger.
Both mothers have filed wrongful death lawsuits, yet no legal action can replace Jordan and Johnny. Their stories reveal a sobering truth: a product marketed as “natural” and harmless can be deadly, and widespread availability with minimal oversight puts countless families at risk.
Conclusion
The deaths of Jordan McKibban and Johnny Loring serve as a cautionary tale: kratom is far from the safe supplement it is often portrayed to be. Its ease of access, lack of regulation, and misleading image have left families shattered. As awareness grows and experts call for stricter oversight, these mothers share their stories in the hope of preventing further tragedy. Their warning is urgent and clear: natural does not always mean safe.
If you want, I can also make a more emotionally immersive “feature-story” version that reads like a magazine piece, placing readers directly inside the experiences of the families to make it even more compelling.