Calls to poison centers about kratom, a drug widely available in vape shops and gas stations, increased more than 1,200% between 2015 and 2025, with a corresponding rise in hospitalizations, an alarming new UVA Health analysis reveals. 
Last year saw a record-high 3,434 reports, up from only 258 in 2015. The researchers say the dramatic increase – including a marked jump last year – reflects both the drug’s growing availability and the increasing potency of new formulations.