‘Natural supplement’ kratom comes with doctor’s warning after being dubbed ‘gas-station heroin’

A doctor has issued a warning about ‘gas-station heroin’ which can produce opioid-like effects.

Kratom is a herbal extract from the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, an evergreen tree that grows in Southeast Asia.

People chew the leaves, swallow dry leaf powder, brew them as tea, or use concentrated extracts/liquid forms for various health benefits, which include lifting mood and pain relief, according to Mayo Clinic.

Apart from the eight states where it is banned, kratom is available online and in petrol stations in the US, whereas in the UK, it is not allowed to be sold legally.

22-year-old Matthew Eller died from taking kratom, while mum-of-three Raylee Reinhart developed a side effect known as 'alligator skin'.

Kratom acts ‘just like heroin’

Dr Bayo explains on her TikTok page (@doctor.bayo) that ‘what really worries me the most is these products are being marketed to look harmless like gummies or even energy drinks’.

She responded to a video of an influencer who claims was attacked in a gas station by a ‘14-year-old kid’ after he refused to buy them a bottle of Feel Free.

A class action lawsuit was filed against Botanic Tonics, the manufacturers of Feel Free, in 2023, claiming the drink was marketed to vulnerable people and caused users to become dependent and experience withdrawal symptoms. Botanic Tonics settled the suit in 2024 and 2025 for $8.75 million.

"When the natural plant kratom is altered and consumed, you can experience opioid effects similar to getting high with morphine or heroin," the health expert adds.

"Kratom binds very powerfully to opioid receptors in your brain, just like heroin and morphine, and it can be extremely addictive."

She said that ‘anyone, including kids, could easily mistake them for something safe.’

"The FDA is warning people not to use it.As a doctor, I'm asking you to stay informed about deceptive marketing and please check labels carefully," Dr Bayo said, calling ‘addiction is a very slippery slope’.

Side effects of kratom

Mayo Clinic states that 'kratom hasn't been shown to be safe or to treat any medical conditions'.

"The US Drug Enforcement Administration calls kratom a drug of concern.

"Poison control centers in the United States received more than 3,400 reports about use of kratom from 2014 through 2019.

"These included reports of death. Side effects reported included high blood pressure, confusion and seizures."

LADbible Group has contacted Botanic Tonics for comment.