LUBBOCK, Texas — A Lubbock mother is sharing her son’s story in hopes of warning other families about the potential dangers of kratom.
Shannon Coulter’s 19-year-old son, Nathan, died in July 2022. His autopsy listed mitragynine toxicity, the primary active compound found in kratom, as his cause of death.
Kratom is an herbal substance derived from a tree native to Southeast Asia. While it remains legal in Texas for adults, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says kratom is not approved to treat any medical condition and warns it may carry risks including dependence, addiction and other serious health effects…