Kratom use in the United States military has shifted from a gray area to a growing concern. While kratom is often marketed as a legal supplement, recent actions by the Department of Defense and individual service branches make it clear that kratom use is prohibited in military service and subject to enforcement.
For service members, the real question is no longer just whether kratom appears on a routine drug test, but whether continued use, and how someone chooses to stop, could affect their life, including their health and career.
The Military is Paying Closer Attention to Kratom
Recently, the Department of Defense has taken a stronger stance on substances that may impair readiness, judgment, or health, even if those substances are not federally scheduled drugs.In September 2025, the Defense Department declared kratom use a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), enforceable under Article 92, effective December 31st.
Individual branches have reinforced this position through official communications.
- The Navy issued an All Navy Message (ALNAV 003/26) prohibiting kratom and kratom-derived compounds, citing health risks, potency concerns, and the unregulated nature of modern kratom products.
- The Air Force has made a public warning to service members that kratom is on the DoD’s prohibited substance list.
- The Army Criminal Investigation Command has warned that kratom use may result in serious consequences under the UCMJ as well.
What Kratom Products Did The Military Ban?
Use of any substance derived from kratom is not allowed in the U.S. military.The military’s scrutiny includes kratom’s active compounds, such as Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). The ban includes all forms, including naturally derived, semi-synthetic, and fully synthetic forms.
Many modern kratom products are no longer simply leaves or powder. Selections range from gummies, vapes, capsules, and more. They are often sold as enhanced or concentrated formulas, including nano kratom and psuedoinoxyl.
Some of these products contain highly concentrated 7-OH, which the military has specifically flagged as especially potent and risky.
Can the Military Test for Kratom?
Yes, the military can test for kratom.While kratom may not appear on every standard drug test panel, specialized laboratory testing can detect kratom alkaloids when testing is ordered.
The idea that ‘kratom is safe because it isn’t tested for’ is a very risky assumption, especially as the military tightens oversight of substances it considers a threat.
The Issue for Kratom Users in the Military
For many service members, kratom use begins as a way to cope with pain, stress, fatigue, or trauma, and gradually becomes part of a daily routine.With regular use, individuals may experience physical and/or psychological dependence, withdrawal symptoms, or escalation to more potent forms of kratom due to an increased tolerance.
Kratom use now carries severe risks within the military due to the military's crackdown on mind-altering substances.
Treatment Approach Matters in the Military
Choosing a treatment approach is where many service members encounter an unexpected issue.Many treatment programs respond to kratom dependence by transitioning patients onto opioid replacement medications, such as Suboxone or methadone. But at the end of the day, those drugs are still opioids.
Service members generally cannot continue serving while prescribed opioid-based maintenance medications. Being placed on these medications may lead to duty restrictions, medical disqualification, or administrative separation. For military personnel, swapping kratom for an opioid-based medication may stop kratom use, but it can also create a new barrier to continuing service.
The Coleman Institute for Addiction Medicine uses an abstinence-based approach with non-addictive comfort medications. Our approach ensures that you’re not swapping one addiction for another.
Seek Help and Begin Recovery
Across military guidance, one message is consistent: early intervention and action are encouraged.Seeking help before enforcement, testing, or disciplinary action protects your health, reduces career and legal risks, allows you to enter treatment on your own terms, and prevents your kratom use from continuing to spiral out of control.
For many service members, the challenge isn’t deciding to stop kratom but finding a way to stop that aligns with military expectations.
The Coleman Institute’s kratom detox can be completed in just 5 days, whereas other treatment facilities will typically require you to be admitted inpatient for a minimum of thirty days; when you’re serving the military, most aren’t able to step away from their everyday life for a whole month.
Kratom Detox at The Coleman Institute
For individuals seeking a fast, effective, and safe treatment option, The Coleman Institute offers a medically supervised, abstinence-based, 5-day outpatient kratom detox program.Unlike many programs, The Coleman Institute does not use any opioid replacement medications such as Suboxone or methadone. Instead, we focus on using non-addictive comfort medications and providing an outpatient structure that allows for flexibility.
Our approach allows individuals to quit kratom without substituting another medication that could interfere with their ability to serve. Following detox, we offer Naltrexone Therapy to help with cravings and prevent relapse. Naltrexone and its extended form, Vivitrol, are opioid antagonists and do not show up on urine drug screens, unlike Suboxone.
If you or a loved one needs to stop using kratom products, we’re here to help. Call us now to take the first step toward lasting recovery.
