An Interview with Adam Scioli, DO, FAOAAM - AOAAM's President Elect
At first glance, products labeled “natural” and sold at your neighborhood gas station or smoke shop may not seem dangerous. But behind the appealing packaging, potent kratom extracts—containing compounds like 7-hydroxymitragynine—are quietly being marketed as safe alternatives. In reality, they act on the brain’s opioid receptors, can be addictive, and may carry risks similar to those of opioids.
“This can damage just about every organ in the body,” cautions Dr. Adam Scioli, Chief Medical Officer at Caron Treatment Centers. “Patients respond to it very much like opioid use disorder.”
With kratom’s growing availability in everyday retail settings, it’s critical to understand the risks, debunk the “all-natural” myth, and protect individuals from a substance that could trigger serious health consequences.
Click here to view the full interview and learn more.