End Kratom Addiction Releases Documentary, The Truth About "Natural" Kratom, as Part of Growing National Movement

A call to action to end addiction and overdose deaths related to "natural" kratom products sold across America.

RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- End Kratom Addiction, a national nonprofit built by families devastated by kratom addiction and overdose deaths, has released The Truth About Natural Kratom, a documentary available to watch free a stopthemagicians.org - a campaign website designed as an invitation for Americans to watch the film and sign a petition to end the kratom epidemic. 

The film examines the risks and terrifying stories behind popular kratom products marketed as a "natural botanical leaf."  The release comes as the tragic deaths of two Ole Miss students have brought renewed attention to kratom products.

CDC SUDORS reports 5,208 kratom-related overdose deaths from 2019 to 2024, and poison-control cases increased by 6500% from 2010 to 2023, most of which pre-dates what are known as semi-synthetic kratom products. It is hard evidence that "natural kratom" has been causing death and addiction for over a decade.

"Many young people are duped into believing 'natural' kratom products are harmless, plant-based herbal supplements," said Dean Francis, Founder and President of End Kratom Addiction (EKA), an organization he launched after watching his son lose his 20s to kratom addiction, and almost dying twice. EKA has quickly scaled nationally, now considered by many as the premiere source for unbiased truth about kratom products, and surrounded by a large network of nationally renown physicians. "That is why we made The Truth About Natural Kratom free to watch and launched 'Stop the Magicians.' We want parents, young adults, and policymakers to hear firsthand from families who have experienced addiction and death caused by what the industry calls 'natural, botanical, pure leaf kratom.'"

The FDA recommended Schedule I classification for kratom in both 2016 and 2018, but aggressive lobbying by the American Kratom Association (AKA) halted federal action.

"The public deserves to know who is really behind this marketing machine," Francis added. "The AKA is directed by convicted felon Mac Haddow and bankrolled by Peyton Palaio and David Gabbay—the key figures previously behind 'Spice,' the synthetic cannabinoid that caused widespread fatalities before DEA stopped it in 2012. Today, Palaio and Gabbay dominate the kratom industry, and face over 20 wrongful death lawsuits.  The AKA uses the same playbook Purdue Pharma used to sell OxyContin as non-addictive.  They masquerade a highly addictive opioid as a harmless natural tea."

The Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers against using kratom since 2014, citing seizures, psychosis, addiction and death among its many risks. The American Medical Association recommends a ban on retail kratom sales, and to complete clinical safety trials and regulatory evaluation before kratom is marketed or sold.

Hilary Tesluck, Executive Director of EKA, added, "Today, the industry claims concentrated 7-OH products and semi-synthetic kratom are the real threat, but that's just another smoke screen. Kratom's primary alkaloid, mitragynine, converts in the body into 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, an opioid found to be more potent than morphine. It offers temporary pain relief to one person at the cost of catastrophic addiction, or death, to another—the same story we saw with OxyContin. We now have a film that declares the TRUTH."

"Parents have lost kids, and many kids will now grow up without a mom or dad.  No one should have to learn about dependence, withdrawal, or death after it happens to someone they love," Francis said. "We are sounding the alarm, and we believe this film will help us amplify the volume."

Watch The Truth About Kratom free at stopthemagicians.org, or visit EndKratomAddiction.org.

About End Kratom Addiction
End Kratom Addiction is a national nonprofit organization founded by families affected by kratom addiction. It equips state and U.S. lawmakers with the truth about kratom products, in order to protect people from the dangers of all kratom products. 

Media contact:
Hilary Tesluck, Executive Director
[email protected] 

SOURCE End Kratom Addiction