A Tampa Bay Times investigation
Follow ups and reaction
- Florida lawmaker pushes for congressional hearing on kratom | Feb. 28, 2024
- Florida senators move to add labeling, restrictions on kratom products | Jan. 16, 2024
- 5 ways to make the kratom marketplace safer | Dec. 30, 2023
- Kratom investigation by Tampa Bay Times stirs up action and reaction | Dec. 28, 2023
Additional material
- How the Times reported this project
- The Tampa Bay Times tested 20 kratom products. Here’s what we found.
- Kratom tied to overdose deaths across the state (video)
- Kratom’s meandering trail from Indonesia to consumers in Florida (video)
- A major US kratom brand relies on a maze of companies. Here’s the list
About the reporters
Helen Freund
is the food and dining critic at the Tampa Bay Times. Read more.
Sam Ogozalek
is a health reporter at the Tampa Bay Times. Read more.
Hannah Critchfield
is an investigative reporter at the Tampa Bay Times. Read more.
Kirby Wilson
is a politics reporter at the Tampa Bay Times. Read more.
Langston Taylor
is the data editor at the Tampa Bay Times. Read more.
The team
- REPORTERS: Helen Freund, Sam Ogozalek, Hannah Critchfield, Langston Taylor and Kirby Wilson
- EDITORS: Rebecca Woolington, Mark Katches, Michelle Stark and Carolyn Fox
- PHOTOGRAPHERS: Dirk Shadd, Luis Santana, Jefferee Woo, Jennifer Glenfield, Aya Diab and Irene Barlian (Indonesia)
- INTERPRETER: Dwi Rizki Nuramita
- PHOTO EDITOR: Martha Asencio-Rhine
- GRAPHICS: Ron Borresen and Langston Taylor
- PRINT DESIGN: Sean Kristoff-Jones
- DIGITAL DESIGN: Justinian Hatfield and Eric Pierpont
- COPY EDITOR:Tim Tierney
- ENGAGEMENT: Kelsey Harrell, Neha Seenarine, Meaghan Habuda and Jenna Duncan
- VIDEO: Jennifer Glenfield and Aya Diab
- LEGAL: Mark Caramanica, James Lake and Elizabeth Ernest
- PROJECT MANAGER: Rebecca Woolington