Phoenix parents push to ban kratom-derived substance after teen’s rehab stay

PHOENIX — PHOENIX — A Phoenix family is pushing for legislative action to ban a substance they say led to their teenage son’s hospitalization, raising new concerns about products containing kratom and its potent compound, 7-hydroxymitragynine.

Sara and Chad Lewis say their 17-year-old son began showing troubling behavioral changes after using kratom tablets and a kava-kratom drink to help with anxiety. “We noticed some behavior changes, very erratic behavior. A lot of people, they have weird muscle movements and something. We just noticed something was going on,” Sara Lewis said.

The situation escalated into a mental health crisis that required a 30-day inpatient rehabilitation stay…

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