Iowa officials have confirmed 45 kratom-associated deaths across 23 counties since 2024, including 16 in the first seven months of this year, and Gov. Kim Reynolds is now calling for a total statewide ban on a product still sold openly beside energy drinks and snacks.
The figures were released at a September 1 press conference and posted by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. Iowa Poison Control has fielded 68 kratom exposure calls so far this year, which the state describes as a 467 percent increase over two years.
