NW Georgia students sickened after eating kratom gummies, officials say

A group of northwest Georgia middle school students got sick Wednesday after eating what was later determined to be kratom gummies, according to officials.

Kratom is a legal substance derived from a tree native to southeastern Asia that is known for its opioid-like effects, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It has become popular in the United States in the past several years and is commonly available at gas stations and smoke shops in the form of tablets, capsules or extracts. A Georgia law change recently increased the age buyers must be to purchase kratom products from 18 to 21.

At Saddle Ridge Middle School in Walker County, five eighth graders ate gummies that contained the substance, school officials said. The children were taken to local hospitals, where a few had to be admitted, authorities said. Those students were said to be stable.

Amber Matthews, a spokesperson for the Walker sheriff’s office, said the ingredient that sickened the students “was suspected to be Kratom based upon a physician’s examination of the victims.”

The school is about 12 miles south of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

“The safety and well-being of our students remain our top priority,” Superintendent Damon Raines said in a statement to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We are grateful for the quick actions of our staff and emergency personnel.”

An incident report states that a student was offering a type of gummy to his friends. Some classmates who said they did not take the gummies reported the student told them, “This is really strong,” according to the report.

Those who did eat it described feeling lethargic and sick.

School cameras showed the student giving several others “something,” but nothing suspicious was found in the boy’s backpack, the report states. A custodian eventually found a nearly empty box of DOTS candy, the report details.

The case remains under investigation, and it’s not clear if charges will be filed.

At lower doses, kratom produces stimulant effects, such as increased alertness and energy, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Higher doses have the opposite effect and act as a sedative.

Some consumers tout the substance’s pain-relieving qualities, though the FDA has not approved its use as a medical or dietary supplement. Federal agencies say it’s dangerous and addictive because it can cause psychosis, including hallucinations and delusions.