Citation

Griffin OH, Webb ME. J. Psychoactive Drugs 2018; 50(2): 114-120.

Affiliation

b Doctoral Student, Department of Sociology , University of California, Riverside , Riverside , CA , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Haight-Ashbury Publications in association with the Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic)

DOI

10.1080/02791072.2017.1371363

PMID

28937941

Abstract

Kratom is a traditional drug from Southeast Asia that has been an emerging new substance in the United States. On August 30, 2016, the DEA announced the intention to emergency schedule kratom into Schedule I. To support this decision, the DEA cited an increase in drug seizures of kratom and an increase in calls to poison control concerning kratom. However, a short time later, on October 12, 2016, the DEA withdrew the intent to schedule kratom after public and congressional backlash. The withdrawal by the DEA was somewhat unprecedented. To better understand both decisions, the current article examines the evidence the DEA cited to support their decision to emergency schedule kratom and the degree and type of media coverage of kratom to determine if a media-driven drug panic occurred.

Language: en

Keywords

Controlled Substances Act; Drug Enforcement Administration; drug panic; kratom