STONERS BEWARE –
April 2, 2026 – Marketed as a natural, hangover-free alternative to alcohol and sold at trendy cafes and vape shops, the plant-based drink kava is fueling a dramatic spike in poisonings across the US.
Researchers found that calls to poison centers involving kava rose 256 %. Kava, a plant native to the Pacific Islands, has been used for centuries in traditional ceremonies. In the US, it is sold as unregulated concentrated extracts, capsules and trendy ready-to-drink beverages, often promoted as a healthy way to relax without the dangers of alcohol.
The problem, experts say, is potency. Commercial kava products can contain two to ten times the concentration of active ingredients called kavalactones, dramatically raising the risk of rapid heartbeat, severe vomiting, neurological issues and liver injury.
The study found that the profile of who is being poisoned has also shifted. In the early 2000s, calls primarily involved young children and women.
Today, the vast majority of exposures involve men aged 20 and older, reflecting the aggressive marketing of these products near college campuses and in vape shops, according to the CDC
Researchers also reported that kava is increasingly being combined with kratom, a psychoactive plant with opioid-like effects.
