Question: Kratom is a drug of abuse that has a long history of use in Southeast Asia, where it is commonly known as thang, kakuam, thom, ketum, and biak. In the U.S., the abuse of kratom has increased markedly in recent years. What is Kratom, where does it come from and how is it used?
Answer: Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Consumption of its leaves produces both stimulant effects (in low doses) and sedative effects (in high doses), and can lead to psychotic symptoms, and psychological and physiological dependence. The psychoactive ingredient is found in the leaves from the kratom tree. These leaves are subsequently crushed and then smoked, brewed with tea, or placed into gel capsules. (https://www.dea.gov/pr/multimedia-library/publications/drug_of_abuse.pdf#page=84; accessed November 2017)