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Trustee warns parents about kratom, urges vigilance and community action
Summary
Trustee Whitman told the board kratom — sold in smoke shops and convenience stores and marketed as "natural" — can act as a stimulant in small doses and an opioid in larger ones and has been linked to dependence, withdrawal and, in some cases, seizures and liver issues; she noted Nassau County has proposed a local ban on kratom sales.
At the start of board announcements, Trustee Whitman urged parents to watch for kratom products, saying the plant-derived substance is sold openly in vape shops and gas stations and can be misperceived as safe because it is marketed as "herbal." She warned that kratom affects the same brain receptors as opioids and can cause dependence, withdrawal symptoms (anxiety, irritability, insomnia) and, in more serious cases, seizures, liver problems and breathing difficulties.
"Because it's marketed as herbal or natural, teens may assume it's safe. It's not," Trustee Whitman said, and encouraged families to look for unusual powders, capsules or canned drinks and to ask about where students shop.
Trustee Whitman also said some local stores sell kratom and that Nassau County has proposed a local law prohibiting the sale of kratom and kratom-containing items. She urged parents to talk with their children and to be alert for changes in mood, sleep or behavior.
Board response and follow-up: the board did not take a formal action on the matter at the meeting. The announcement was framed as a public-health advisory and a community-awareness request from a trustee.
