Products marketed as natural supplements and sold at gas stations, vape shops and online are raising alarms among Greater Cincinnati coroners after a series of suspected overdose deaths linked to kratom and its chemical compounds.
About 14 suspected deaths involving kratom or related alkaloids have been identified across the region in the past couple of months, according to Hamilton County Coroner Dr. Lakshmi Sammarco.
Sammarco was joined Monday by Butler County Coroner Dr. Lisa Mannix and Warren County Coroner Dr. Russell Uptegrove to warn the public about products that can resemble ordinary energy shots, dietary supplements, gummies and pills but may contain dangerous, highly concentrated substances…