Journal of Forensic Sciences 2013-01-01

A drug fatality involving Kratom.

Michael F Neerman, Randall E Frost, Janine Deking

Index: J. Forensic Sci. 58 Suppl 1 , S278-9, (2013)

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Abstract

A 17-year-old white man who showed no obvious signs of trauma was found unresponsive in bed and was pronounced dead at the scene. The decedent had a documented history of heroin abuse and chronic back pain and reportedly self-medicated with Kratom (mitragynine). The autopsy was remarkable only for pulmonary congestion and edema and a distended bladder, both of which are consistent with, though not diagnostic of, opiate use. A laboratory work-up revealed therapeutic levels of over-the-counter cold medications and benzodiazepines. However, of interest was a level of mitragynine at 0.60 mg/L. Given the facts of the case, the Medical Examiner certified the cause of death as "possible Kratom toxicity" and the manner of death was classified as "accident."© 2012 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.