What Drug Classification Is Kratom? Understanding Its Pharmacology, Legal Status, and Drug Class

If you are asking what drug classification is kratom, the most accurate answer is that kratom does not fit neatly into one single category. The word “classification” can refer to several different things, including a substance's botanical identity, pharmacological effects, legal scheduling, or regulatory status.

Kratom, scientifically known as Mitragyna speciosa, is a tropical tree in the coffee family. Its leaves contain numerous alkaloids, particularly mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). These compounds can interact with opioid receptors and are associated with both stimulant-like and opioid-/sedative-like effects.

That does not mean kratom is simply an opiate, a conventional opioid, or a stimulant. Those terms describe different pharmacological or chemical categories.

There is also an important legal distinction. A substance can have opioid receptor activity without automatically being a federally scheduled controlled substance. Likewise, a substance can be regulated by the FDA without being assigned a Schedule I-V classification by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

In the United States, the legal situation has also become more complicated because regulators are taking separate action concerning concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine products. In July 2026, the DEA announced its intent to temporarily place 7-OH above a specified threshold and certain related substances into Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act. The DEA specifically stated that the action does not apply to botanical kratom products containing naturally occurring 7-OH below the specified threshold.

So, the short version is:

Kratom is a psychoactive botanical substance whose alkaloids have opioid-receptor activity and can produce both stimulant-like and opioid-/sedative-like effects. Its pharmacological classification is different from its legal classification, and natural kratom should not automatically be described as a Schedule I drug, an opiate, or a conventional opioid.

What Is Kratom?

Kratom is the common name for Mitragyna speciosa, a tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. It belongs to the Rubiaceae, or coffee, family. Traditionally, people in parts of Southeast Asia have chewed kratom leaves or prepared them as tea. Traditional use has included attempts to combat fatigue and improve work productivity, and kratom has also been used in cultural and religious settings.

From a botanical perspective, therefore, kratom is a plant, not a pharmaceutical drug manufactured by a conventional drug company.

From a pharmacological perspective, however, kratom is psychoactive. Its leaves contain many naturally occurring alkaloids, with mitragynine being the principal alkaloid and 7-hydroxymitragynine being another important constituent. The scientific literature and government assessments recognize that these compounds contribute to kratom's biological effects.

This distinction explains why descriptions such as “herbal supplement,” “psychoactive plant,” “botanical substance,” and “drug” can appear in discussions about kratom even though they are not interchangeable terms.

Kratom's Major Alkaloids

The two compounds most often discussed when researchers describe kratom pharmacology are:

• Mitragynine
• 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH)

Kratom contains many other alkaloids, but mitragynine and 7-OH receive particular attention because of their activity at opioid receptors.

Importantly, ordinary botanical kratom and concentrated 7-OH products should not automatically be treated as the same substance. FDA and DEA materials have specifically distinguished naturally occurring 7-OH in kratom leaves from products containing added or substantially elevated concentrations of 7-OH.

What Drug Class Is Kratom?

The phrase kratom drug classification can be confusing because there is no single classification system that answers every question about kratom.

A useful way to understand the issue is to separate four categories.

Classification	What it means for kratom
Botanical classification	Mitragyna speciosa, a tropical tree in the coffee family
Pharmacological classification	A psychoactive botanical whose alkaloids interact with several biological targets, including opioid receptors
Legal classification	Depends on the jurisdiction and the specific substance or product
Medical/regulatory classification	Kratom is not an FDA-approved drug for a therapeutic indication in the United States

These categories should not be collapsed into one.

Botanical Classification

Botanically, kratom is Mitragyna speciosa. It is related to other plants in the Rubiaceae family, rather than to the opium poppy.

Pharmacological Classification

Pharmacologically, kratom is a psychoactive botanical substance. Its alkaloids interact with opioid receptors, and users may report stimulant-like, relaxing, sedating, or opioid-like effects. NCCIH notes that reported effects include increased energy and alertness as well as relaxation, pain relief, and confusion.

Legal Classification

Legally, the answer depends on the jurisdiction. A federal classification in the United States is not necessarily the same as a state classification, and laws outside the United States can differ substantially.

Medical and Regulatory Classification

In the United States, kratom is not an FDA-approved prescription or over-the-counter drug. FDA states that there are no legally marketed prescription or OTC drug products containing kratom or its known alkaloids, and the agency does not recognize kratom as an approved treatment for a medical condition.

Is Kratom an Opioid?

This is one of the most common questions about kratom.

The careful answer is that kratom is not identical to conventional opioids, but its major alkaloids have opioid receptor activity.

Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine interact with opioid receptors in the brain. NCCIH specifically identifies opioid receptor interaction as one reason kratom can produce effects that resemble those associated with opioids and sedatives.

However, saying “kratom is an opioid” without qualification can be misleading.

The term opioid is generally used for substances that interact with opioid receptors. In contrast, opiate traditionally refers to naturally occurring compounds derived from the opium poppy, such as morphine and codeine.

Kratom does not come from the opium poppy.

Is Kratom an Opiate?

No, kratom is not an opiate in the traditional botanical or chemical sense.

The plant Mitragyna speciosa is not an opium poppy and does not produce morphine or codeine as its characteristic active constituents.

Kratom's pharmacology is different. Its primary alkaloid, mitragynine, and other constituents interact with opioid receptors, which helps explain why researchers often discuss kratom in relation to opioids.

Therefore:

• Kratom is not an opium-derived opiate.
• Kratom contains alkaloids with opioid receptor activity.
• Kratom can produce some opioid-like effects.
• Kratom should not automatically be treated as pharmacologically identical to morphine, heroin, oxycodone, fentanyl, or other conventional opioids.

This distinction is especially important for accurate health information.

Is Kratom Classified as an Opioid?

The answer depends on what “classified” means.

From a pharmacological perspective, kratom has opioid-related properties because its alkaloids interact with opioid receptors.

From a legal scheduling perspective, opioid receptor activity alone does not determine whether a substance is Schedule I, II, III, IV, or V.

From a botanical perspective, kratom is a plant in the coffee family.

Therefore, describing kratom simply as “an opioid” without additional explanation is an oversimplification.

The same principle applies when comparing kratom's subjective effects with conventional opioids. If you want to explore that specific question in more detail, see Canuck Kratom's article on whether kratom feels like opioids.

Is Kratom a Stimulant?

Kratom can produce stimulant-like effects, but it is not best described as simply a stimulant drug.

NCCIH reports that people who use kratom have described effects such as increased energy and alertness, along with increased heart rate. At the same time, users have reported effects more similar to opioids or sedatives, including relaxation and confusion.

This means the effects can vary according to several factors, including the person's response, the product, its chemical composition, and the amount involved.

Consequently, it would be inaccurate to classify all kratom as equivalent to traditional central nervous system stimulants.

A better description is that kratom is a psychoactive botanical with complex pharmacological effects, including stimulant-like and opioid-/sedative-like effects.

Is Kratom a Controlled Substance?

This question requires a jurisdiction-specific answer.

A controlled substance is a substance subject to specific legal controls under applicable drug laws. In the United States, the federal Controlled Substances Act establishes five schedules: Schedule I, II, III, IV, and V. The schedules reflect statutory criteria concerning factors such as abuse potential, accepted medical use, and dependence potential.

A substance's interaction with opioid receptors does not automatically place it into one of these schedules.

Is Kratom a Schedule I Drug?

Natural kratom should not simply be described as a federally Schedule I substance based on its opioid receptor activity.

The federal situation became more complicated in 2026 because the DEA announced an intent to temporarily place 7-hydroxymitragynine above a specified threshold into Schedule I, along with certain related substances. The DEA stated that this action targets highly concentrated or synthetic 7-OH products and does not apply to botanical kratom products containing naturally occurring 7-OH below the specified threshold.

As of September 11, 2026, the distinction between natural botanical kratom and concentrated or enhanced 7-OH products is therefore particularly important.

The DEA's 2026 action should not be interpreted as meaning that every kratom leaf product is automatically Schedule I.

What About Schedule II, III, IV, or V?

Kratom is not accurately classified by simply choosing Schedule II, III, IV, or V because a substance has opioid receptor activity.

Schedules II through V are specific legal categories established by the Controlled Substances Act. They include different substances and have different statutory criteria.

Therefore, claims such as “kratom is Schedule II” or “kratom is Schedule IV” should not be made without identifying a specific jurisdiction and substance.

Kratom Legal Status: Federal, State, and Local Laws

Kratom legality is not determined by pharmacology alone.

In the United States, federal law and state or local law can address substances differently. Some jurisdictions have adopted restrictions involving kratom, while others have not imposed the same restrictions.

This is why phrases such as kratom banned states and kratom legal states can be misleading when presented as permanent categories. Laws can change, and a state law can also differ from a local ordinance.

Anyone researching the legal status of kratom should verify the current law applicable to the exact location and product involved.

The distinction is especially important for products containing concentrated 7-OH because regulatory treatment can differ from that of ordinary botanical kratom.

What Is the Controlled Substances Act?

The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) is the federal U.S. framework that establishes the five schedules of controlled substances.

The five federal schedules are:

• Schedule I
• Schedule II
• Schedule III
• Schedule IV
• Schedule V

The fact that these schedules exist does not mean that every psychoactive substance belongs to one of them.

For example, a substance can have measurable pharmacological activity without automatically being scheduled under the CSA.

That is why kratom pharmacological classification and kratom controlled substance status must be discussed separately.

Is Kratom FDA Approved?

No. There are no FDA-approved kratom drug products in the United States.

FDA states that there are no prescription or OTC drug products containing kratom or its known alkaloids that are legally on the U.S. market. FDA also states that kratom is not lawfully marketed in the United States as a dietary supplement or as an ingredient added to conventional foods.

This distinction is important because people sometimes assume that something sold commercially must have FDA approval.

That is not how drug approval works.

Selling a Product Is Not the Same as FDA Approval

A product appearing in an online store or physical retail location does not prove that FDA has approved it as a drug.

FDA approval means the agency has evaluated an applicable drug application and determined that the product meets the legal standards for approval for a particular intended use.

Kratom does not have such an FDA-approved therapeutic indication.

Therefore, FDA kratom status should not be described as “FDA-approved.”

Is Kratom a Dietary Supplement?

This is another area where terminology can become confusing.

Some kratom products have historically been marketed using dietary-supplement terminology. However, FDA states that kratom is not lawfully marketed in the United States as a dietary supplement and that dietary supplements containing kratom are adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act based on FDA's determinations.

So calling something an herbal supplement in a casual sense does not mean it has the legal status of an FDA-compliant dietary supplement.

This is one reason consumers should distinguish between:

• botanical substance,
• herbal product,
• commercially sold product,
• dietary supplement,
• approved drug,
• and controlled substance.

These terms describe different regulatory concepts.

Kratom Alkaloids and Pharmacology

Kratom's pharmacological classification is primarily connected to its alkaloids.

Mitragynine

Mitragynine is the principal alkaloid found in kratom. It contributes substantially to the plant's pharmacological effects and interacts with opioid receptors.

Mitragynine is therefore important when researchers discuss kratom's opioid receptor activity, but the compound should not automatically be equated with conventional opioid medications.

7-Hydroxymitragynine

7-Hydroxymitragynine, commonly abbreviated 7-OH, is another naturally occurring kratom alkaloid.

It occurs naturally in botanical kratom in relatively small amounts, while some commercial products contain much higher or concentrated levels. FDA has specifically distinguished naturally occurring 7-OH in kratom from products in which 7-OH is added or present at enhanced levels.

This distinction is increasingly important because concentrated 7-OH products have become a separate regulatory concern.

FDA has described concentrated 7-OH products as potent opioid products and has warned that they have not been established as safe or effective for medical use.

Mu-Opioid Receptors

The mu-opioid receptor, often abbreviated MOR, is one of the major opioid receptor types in the nervous system.

Mitragynine and 7-OH interact with opioid receptors, which helps explain why kratom can produce effects that overlap with some opioid-related effects.

However, receptor activity alone does not mean two substances have identical pharmacology, potency, safety profiles, metabolism, or clinical effects.

That is why kratom should not be described as simply another form of morphine or prescription opioid.

Natural Kratom vs. Concentrated 7-OH Products

One of the most important classification distinctions is between traditional botanical kratom and products specifically formulated to contain concentrated 7-OH.

Natural kratom leaves contain multiple alkaloids. 7-OH is a minor naturally occurring constituent, while mitragynine is generally the dominant alkaloid.

Concentrated 7-OH products can have a substantially different chemical profile.

In July 2025, FDA warned about products containing added or enhanced 7-OH, emphasizing that these products should not automatically be considered equivalent to traditional kratom leaf.

The DEA subsequently announced in July 2026 that it intended to temporarily schedule 7-OH above a specified threshold and certain related substances under Schedule I. The agency explicitly said the action did not apply to botanical kratom products containing naturally occurring 7-OH below the specified threshold.

This is a good example of why the exact chemical composition of a product matters when discussing kratom substance classification.

How Kratom Compares With Conventional Opioids

Kratom and conventional opioids overlap in one important area: some of their active compounds interact with opioid receptors.

But overlap does not equal identity.

Conventional opioids include medications and other substances with established opioid pharmacology, such as morphine, oxycodone, hydromorphone, and fentanyl. Kratom contains different naturally occurring alkaloids and has a more complex botanical composition.

Kratom can produce opioid-like effects, but it should not be automatically described as equivalent to prescription opioids or illicit opioids.

For a focused discussion of subjective similarities and differences, readers can also explore Canuck Kratom's resource on whether kratom feels like opioids.

Why Kratom's Classification Can Be Confusing

Kratom's classification can appear contradictory because different organizations may be answering different questions.

A botanist might call it Mitragyna speciosa.

A pharmacologist might discuss its alkaloids and opioid receptor activity.

A public-health agency might discuss adverse effects and dependence.

A regulator might discuss whether a product qualifies as an approved drug or dietary supplement.

A law enforcement agency might discuss whether a particular substance is controlled under federal law.

All of these descriptions can be relevant without being interchangeable.

For example:

“Kratom is a plant.”
This describes its botanical identity.

“Kratom is psychoactive.”
This describes its ability to affect the nervous system.

“Kratom has opioid receptor activity.”
This describes part of its pharmacology.

“Kratom is not an FDA-approved drug.”
This describes its U.S. regulatory status.

“A particular 7-OH product is subject to Schedule I controls.”
This describes a specific federal legal action concerning a particular chemical concentration or formulation.

None of these statements alone completely answers the question of what drug classification kratom has.

Kratom Safety and Potential Risks

Understanding classification is not the same as establishing safety.

Kratom can produce adverse effects, and scientific understanding of its short- and long-term effects remains incomplete. NCCIH states that research is still in its early stages and that much remains to be learned about kratom's safety and potential therapeutic uses.

Reported adverse effects can include nausea, vomiting, constipation, dizziness, jitteriness, and drowsiness. More serious effects have also been reported, including seizures, abnormal heart rhythm, liver problems, and loss of consciousness. Poison Control also notes that contamination and uncertainty about product composition can create additional concerns.

FDA has warned about serious adverse events associated with kratom, including liver toxicity, seizures, and substance use disorder.

Kratom Dependence

Regular use of kratom can be associated with dependence in some people.

Dependence means that the body adapts to repeated exposure, so stopping or substantially reducing use may produce withdrawal symptoms.

Dependence is not the same thing as saying every person who uses kratom will develop a substance use disorder.

The evidence indicates that withdrawal can occur, particularly among regular users, but the severity and pattern can vary.

Kratom Withdrawal

Reported kratom withdrawal symptoms can include physical and psychological symptoms. The available evidence is still developing, and individual experiences can differ.

This is another reason not to describe kratom as universally safe simply because it is plant-derived.

Drug Interactions

Kratom may also interact with other substances or medications.

Reliable information about all possible kratom drug interactions is limited, and products can differ in composition. Poison Control specifically notes that there is limited information about drug-drug interactions and recommends discussing kratom use with a poison center or healthcare professional when interaction concerns arise.

Combining psychoactive substances can increase unpredictability and may increase the risk of serious adverse effects.

Contamination and Product Quality

Product composition is another safety issue.

FDA has previously reported concerns involving contamination of kratom products, including Salmonella and heavy metals.

This means the potential risks associated with a kratom product may involve more than kratom's naturally occurring alkaloids alone.

Is Kratom Considered a Psychoactive Substance?

Yes.

Kratom is considered psychoactive because its constituents can affect the central nervous system and produce noticeable effects on alertness, relaxation, mood, perception, or other functions.

NCCIH describes both stimulant-like and opioid-/sedative-like effects among people who use kratom.

Calling kratom a natural psychoactive substance is therefore reasonable, but “natural” should not be interpreted as synonymous with “safe.”

Is Kratom a Narcotic?

The word narcotic is used inconsistently in everyday conversation and can have different meanings in legal and historical contexts.

For scientific accuracy, it is better to describe kratom specifically in terms of its alkaloids, opioid receptor activity, psychoactive effects, and regulatory status rather than simply labeling the plant a narcotic.

Kratom is not an opium-poppy-derived opiate.

Its alkaloids do, however, interact with opioid receptors, which is why opioid-related terminology frequently appears in scientific and regulatory discussions of kratom.

Is Kratom a Prescription Drug?

No. Kratom is not an FDA-approved prescription drug in the United States.

FDA states that there are no legally marketed prescription or OTC drug products containing kratom or its known alkaloids.

A product being sold commercially does not automatically mean it is a prescription medicine, and a plant being pharmacologically active does not automatically make it an approved pharmaceutical.

What Does “Herbal Drug” Mean?

The phrase herbal drug can be used broadly to describe biologically active substances derived from plants, but it does not necessarily identify a legal category.

Kratom is certainly botanical and psychoactive, but whether a particular kratom product qualifies as an herbal medicine, dietary supplement, food, or drug under a specific country's regulations depends on the applicable law.

This is why legal terminology should always be tied to a jurisdiction.

Kratom Regulation and Ongoing Research

Kratom remains an area of active scientific and regulatory interest.

Researchers continue to study mitragynine, 7-OH, receptor activity, metabolism, dependence, adverse events, and potential therapeutic applications.

At the same time, U.S. regulators continue to distinguish traditional botanical kratom from concentrated or enhanced 7-OH products. FDA has stated that there are currently no FDA-approved therapeutic drugs containing kratom or its known alkaloids.

Because the research and regulatory environment can change, readers should be cautious about relying on old statements concerning kratom regulation, kratom legality, or drug scheduling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What drug classification is kratom?

Kratom is best described as a psychoactive botanical substance whose alkaloids, especially mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, interact with opioid receptors and can produce both stimulant-like and opioid-/sedative-like effects. Its pharmacological classification is separate from its legal classification.

Is kratom an opioid?

Kratom contains alkaloids with opioid receptor activity, but it is not identical to conventional opioid drugs. Describing kratom simply as an opioid without explaining this distinction can be misleading.

Is kratom an opiate?

No. Kratom is not an opium-poppy-derived opiate. It is a plant in the coffee family whose alkaloids interact with opioid receptors.

Is kratom a stimulant?

Kratom can produce stimulant-like effects such as increased alertness and energy, but it can also produce opioid-like or sedative effects. It is therefore not accurately described as simply a conventional stimulant.

Is kratom a controlled substance?

Its legal status depends on the jurisdiction and, increasingly, the specific chemical composition of the product. Natural kratom should not automatically be described as a federally scheduled controlled substance in the United States.

Is kratom a Schedule I drug?

Natural kratom should not simply be labeled Schedule I. In 2026, the DEA announced an intent to temporarily schedule 7-OH above a specified threshold and certain related substances under Schedule I, while explicitly distinguishing those substances from botanical kratom containing naturally occurring 7-OH below the specified threshold.

Is kratom FDA approved?

No. FDA states that there are no FDA-approved drug products containing kratom or its known alkaloids in the United States.

What type of drug is mitragynine?

Mitragynine is a naturally occurring kratom alkaloid and the principal alkaloid in the plant. It has pharmacological activity at opioid receptors and contributes to kratom's effects.

What is 7-hydroxymitragynine?

7-Hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, is a naturally occurring kratom alkaloid with opioid receptor activity. It occurs in relatively small amounts in botanical kratom, while some commercial products contain concentrated or enhanced levels.

Does kratom act on opioid receptors?

Yes. Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine interact with opioid receptors in the brain. This is an important part of kratom's pharmacological profile.

Is kratom considered a psychoactive substance?

Yes. Kratom is psychoactive because its alkaloids can affect the nervous system and produce noticeable physiological and subjective effects.

Is kratom legal everywhere?

No. Kratom's legal status varies by jurisdiction and can change. State, provincial, territorial, and local laws may differ from federal law, so current local regulations should be checked before making a legal determination.

Can kratom cause dependence?

Yes, dependence can occur with repeated kratom use. Some regular users experience withdrawal after stopping or reducing use. The risk and severity vary between individuals.

Is kratom the same as 7-OH?

No. Botanical kratom contains naturally occurring 7-OH along with many other alkaloids, while some commercial products are specifically concentrated or enhanced with 7-OH. Regulators have treated these categories differently.

Key Takeaway: How Is Kratom Classified?

The best answer to “what drug classification is kratom?” depends on which classification system you mean.

Botanically, kratom is Mitragyna speciosa, a tropical tree in the coffee family.

Pharmacologically, it is a psychoactive botanical substance containing alkaloids such as mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine that interact with opioid receptors. Its effects can include both stimulant-like and opioid-/sedative-like effects.

Chemically, mitragynine and 7-OH are alkaloids rather than opiates derived from the opium poppy.

Medically and regulatorily in the United States, kratom is not an FDA-approved drug and is not approved to treat a medical condition.

Legally, kratom's status depends on jurisdiction and the specific substance or formulation involved. Federal, state, and local laws can differ.

And as of 2026, it is particularly important to distinguish ordinary botanical kratom from concentrated or enhanced 7-OH products. The DEA announced an intent to temporarily schedule 7-OH above a specified threshold and certain related substances under Schedule I, while explicitly stating that the action does not apply to botanical kratom products containing naturally occurring 7-OH below the specified threshold.

For that reason, the most scientifically responsible description is not simply “kratom is an opioid,” “kratom is an opiate,” or “kratom is a stimulant.”

Kratom is a psychoactive botanical substance with complex pharmacology, including opioid receptor activity, and its pharmacological classification should be kept separate from its legal and medical/regulatory classification.