A north shore senator is taking aim at kratom, an herbal supplement that’s been flagged as dangerous by two federal agencies, and wants to see it banned in Louisiana.
In small doses, the substance derived from a tree native to Southeast Asia, acts as a mild stimulant that users say can increase alertness and energy, according to a Drug Enforcement Administration fact sheet.
But kratom, which is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, can also cause psychotic symptoms and lead to addiction, according to the DEA, which lists it as a “drug and chemical of concern.”
Sen. Patrick McMath, R-Covington, said he’s heard from parents whose teenage children have gotten sick from kratom, which he says is sold everyone. “It’s hard not to find it,” he said.
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