Podcast Summary: “Family Warns: Mysterious, Risky Drug Lurks at Corner Stores”

Podcast: The Report
Host: Nicole McCall (The Epoch Times)
Reporter: Janice Eisel
Date: September 17, 2025
Main Subject: The growing danger and debate around Kratom, highlighted through the story of Cameron Francis and his family’s push for national awareness and regulation.

Overview: Episode Theme & Purpose

This episode delves into the hidden risks and complex debate surrounding kratom, a plant-derived substance increasingly sold at gas stations and convenience stores across the U.S. Through the story of West Virginia native Cameron Francis—a former college athlete who fell into addiction after using kratom as an “innocent” substitute for alcohol—the episode highlights personal, public health, and policy issues. The Francis family, addiction specialists, and regulatory viewpoints are all showcased to underscore a national discussion about accessibility, regulation, and the real-life toll of kratom addiction.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cameron Francis’s Story: Kratom’s Lure and Descent into Addiction

• Background:
  • Cameron began using kratom at age 22, seeking a socially acceptable alternative to alcohol due to his girlfriend’s disapproval.
  • Initially, kratom made him feel “way better than alcohol” and improved his focus on studies.
• Quote:
  • “It made him feel way better than alcohol and it even helped him focus on homework and test taking.” (Nicole McCall, 01:08)
• Escalation:
  • Kratom use became habitual (“tea” at parties), and worsened when combined with alcohol after college setbacks and a breakup.
  • Cameron described kratom as hijacking his “brain, heart and soul,” with lows so severe he could “only solve it with more, more alcohol, more kratom.”
• Consequences:
  • Lost job, financial ruin, and car wrecks. The addiction was hidden for years, even after serious incidents.
  • Hospitalization and eventual admission of kratom use led to a five-day detox at the Coleman Institute, but withdrawal was described as “the worst pain you could go through.”
• Quote:
  • “Addiction is not something you can just will your way out of.” (Nicole McCall paraphrasing Cameron, 05:23)

2. What is Kratom? Use, Legality, and Dangers

• Origins & Traditional Use:
  • Kratom is derived from Southeast Asian trees and used for centuries there, typically consumed raw or as broths.
• Modern Use in US:
  • Became popular during the pandemic as an opioid alternative for pain or withdrawal. Unlike traditional use, in the West it’s sold as processed powders or pills—often mixed with other substances.
• Psychoactive Effects:
  • Low doses: stimulant; high doses: sedative.
  • Key concern: Processed forms and enhanced compounds have unclear and potentially severe risks.

3. Regulatory and Medical Response

• General Confusion in Medical Field:
  • When hospitalized, Cameron’s doctor didn’t know enough about kratom to treat him adequately. (04:55)
• Regulatory Landscape:
  • DEA and FDA warn about kratom’s psychoactive properties and lack of standardization.
  • 7OH, a highly potent kratom-derived compound, is 13 times stronger than morphine, and mostly unregulated.
• Quote:
  • “7OH... comes out with 500% more 7OH than kratom leaves. 7OH is also 13 times more powerful than morphine, according to the FDA.” (Nicole McCall, 07:06)

4. Family & Advocate Perspectives: Regulation vs. Ban

• Dean Francis Gabriel (Cameron’s Father):
  • Campaigns for a total nationwide ban, believing the risks outweigh any purported benefits.
  • Highlights connections between industry lobbyists and political figures (e.g., former congressmen and associates).
• Addiction Specialist View (Jennifer Gifford):
  • CEO of the Coleman Institute. Calls for kratom to be classified as a Schedule 1 drug, citing 40% of clinic clientele now struggling with kratom or related compounds (up from 8% last year).
  • Warns that accessibility and misinformation (from store clerks) is rampant.
• Memorable Moment:
  • Gifford recounts her conversation with a gas station clerk:
    • Quote: “No, not at all. People love it so much that they will come in sometimes two or three times a day to buy it.” (Clerk, via Gifford, 08:41)

5. Broader Social Impacts and Industry Pushback

• Regulatory Efforts & Industry Lobby:
  • The American Kratom Association supports regulating 7OH but not a full ban. The episode notes powerful connections among advocates and industry players.
  • Economic impact: A total ban could cost billions, highlighting the powerful interests at play.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It made him feel way better than alcohol and it even helped him focus on homework and test taking.”
  — Cameron Francis (paraphrased), 01:08

• “Addiction is not something you can just will your way out of.”
  — Cameron Francis (paraphrased), 05:23

• “Withdrawal was the worst pain you could go through, both mentally and physically.”
  — Cameron Francis (paraphrased), 05:49

• “7OH is also 13 times more powerful than morphine, according to the FDA.”
  — Nicole McCall, 07:11

• “No, not at all. People love it so much that they will come in sometimes two or three times a day to buy it.”
  — Gas station employee (relayed by Jennifer Gifford), 08:41

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:01 – 02:35 | Introduction, Cameron’s journey with kratom, and overview of kratom’s rise in the US
• 03:34 – 05:52 | Descent into addiction, consequences, and initial attempts at recovery
• 06:03 – 08:35 | Parental advocacy, regulatory debate, 7OH dangers, and the call for a ban
• 08:35 – 09:30 | Firsthand perspective of accessibility, patients’ experiences with severe withdrawal, and concluding remarks

Episode Takeaways

• Kratom is easily accessible yet poorly understood, presenting significant risks particularly when processed or enhanced.
• Personal stories like Cameron’s underscore the hidden dangers and the urgent need for both compassionate support for addicts and clear, enforced regulation—or even a ban.
• Industry pushback and political connections complicate efforts to meaningfully regulate or restrict kratom’s distribution.

The episode serves as a wake-up call for the public and policymakers: treating kratom as a harmless supplement is both misleading and potentially dangerous, especially for vulnerable youth and individuals in recovery. The Francis family's message is one of both compassion for addicts and urgent action on regulation.