The Scheduling of Kratom and Selective Use of Data

ABSTRACT

Kratom is a traditional drug from Southeast Asia that has been an emerging new substance in the United States. On August 30, 2016, the DEA announced the intention to emergency schedule kratom into Schedule I. To support this decision, the DEA cited an increase in drug seizures of kratom and an increase in calls to poison control concerning kratom. However, a short time later, on October 12, 2016, the DEA withdrew the intent to schedule kratom after public and congressional backlash. The withdrawal by the DEA was somewhat unprecedented. To better understand both decisions, the current article examines the evidence the DEA cited to support their decision to emergency schedule kratom and the degree and type of media coverage of kratom to determine if a media-driven drug panic occurred.

KEYWORDS:

• Controlled Substances Act
• Drug Enforcement Administration
• drug panic
• kratom

Notes

1. The eight factors are: (1) actual or relative potential for abuse; (2) scientific evidence of the pharmacological effects; (3) the state of current scientific knowledge regarding the substance; (4) history of the substance and current pattern of abuse; (5) the scope, duration, and significance of abuse; (6) risk to public health; (7) psychic or physiological dependence liability; and (8) if the substance is an immediate precursor to a substance that has already been scheduled.