The addiction was so bad, Robin K. would wake up in the middle of the night to get another dose. She was hooked on kratom, an unregulated substance with opioid-like effects that can be bought at any number of shops and gas stations across Long Island.
“It was horrible,” said the 35-year-old Suffolk resident. “I was on it for five years, and the withdrawal was terrible. I was physically sick for weeks trying to kick the kratom habit.”
Recognizing the debilitating properties of the herbal substance, Suffolk Legislator Jim Mazzarella has proposed a new law to ban it.
Mazzarella’s measure, similar to one already in force in Nassau County, will prohibit the sale, distribution, or possession of kratom products in Suffolk County. The proposal comes as local officials and health professionals raise concerns about the drug’s addictive potential and lack of regulation.
“The bill is to basically ban all kratom products,” Mazzarella said. “They’ve been found to be highly addictive and destructive to users and their families.”
Kratom contains compounds such as mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, which interact with opioid receptors in the brain. At lower doses, the drug can act as a stimulant, while at higher doses, it produces sedative effects. According to Mazzarella, the danger lies not only in the compounds themselves, but in how they are being altered and concentrated.
“Manufacturers are taking those derivatives and creating synthetics, increasing the potency,” he noted. “That creates a higher mood-altering effect, which leads to a higher addictive effect and raises the risk of overdose or death.”
While some advocates claim kratom in its natural form helps with pain, anxiety, or attention disorders, Mazzarella said the lack of oversight makes it impossible for consumers to know what they are taking.
“People are walking into a smoke shop and have no idea what they’re getting,” he said. “There’s no standard, no regulation, and no limit to the strength of these compounds.”
County Executive Ed Romaine voiced strong support for the ban, citing concerns raised by those who have experienced the drug’s harmful effects.
“Numerous residents have contacted my office to note the unfortunate addictions that have fallen on their loved ones as a result of the use of kratom,” Romaine said. “While there are those who are stating that the issue with kratom is not about natural-based kratom compared to the synthetic kind, the fact remains that there is a public health and safety necessity for why the ban should be enacted.”
Romaine added that distinguishing between natural and synthetic versions has proven difficult, reinforcing the need for a broad prohibition.
“Opponents of the bill have failed to identify ways to distinguish between the two types, necessitating a blanket-wide ban for the protection of all our residents,” he said. Romaine thanked Mazzarella for introducing the legislation and vowed to sign it if approved by the legislature.
“We thought it was harmless, a natural product, something you can buy at a store,” Robin K. continued. “There were long-term effects; people don’t know, there’s no awareness. We had no idea how powerful this substance is.”
Data cited by Mazzarella underscores the concern. So far this year, traces of kratom have been found in multiple overdose deaths in Suffolk County. In 2025, roughly 30 percent of overdose cases showed the presence of the substance, though officials say it remains unclear whether kratom was the primary cause or a contributing factor.
“That’s part of the problem—we don’t have all the answers,” Mazzarella said. “But when we’re faced with that uncertainty as government officials, we need to protect the public.”
A public hearing on the proposal drew testimony from medical experts, law enforcement, and families affected by addiction, and supporters are confident it will pass.
“Just because kratom is supposedly a natural product does not mean it’s safe,” Mazzarella stressed. “When you consider all the risks, you’re better off not using it in any form.”