Kratom popularity rises in Eugene

Signs advertising kratom outside of corner markets and gas stations line Eugene’s streets. The plant used to treat pain is centuries old, but its popularity is recent, with newfound usage and new concerns about a lack of regulation. 

“Kratom is a plant in the coffee family native to southeastern Asia,” said Dr. Marc Swogger, a clinical psychologist researching kratom. “We found that people were reporting that kratom was useful for pain, anxiety and getting off of opioids.”

His research shows how kratom can cause similar effects to opioids, helping to wean people off of other opioids like Vicodin and heroin.

Neighborhood Market, a grocery store in Eugene, began selling Sunstone Organics’ kratom capsules a year ago. Cashier Gabby Grewal said people buy kratom from the store every day.

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