Kratom is at the heart of a complex landscape marked by regulatory uncertainty, misinformation, and polarized opinions. Advocates highlight its benefits for mood enhancement, and addiction support, while critics express concerns over its safety and potential for abuse.

Navigating this terrain requires diverse voices—those who have experienced both the positives and negatives of Kratom. Users who have benefited can provide insights into its potential, while those who have faced adverse effects can underscore the need for caution.

Mission Statement

The Kratom Consumer Advisory Council (KCAC) plays a crucial role in this dialogue, uniting a broad spectrum of perspectives to promote responsible use, shape informed policies, and advance scientific understanding. By fostering education and engaging with policymakers, the KCAC seeks to bridge the gap between public perception and scientific evidence, guiding the conversation toward a balanced and informed view of Kratom.

KCAC Position Statement: Registration and Enforcing Registration of Kratom Products

KCAC Position Statement: Proper Labeling of Kratom Products

KCAC Position Statement: The Status and Legality of 7 (7-Hydroxymitragynine) Products

KCAC Position Statement: Kratom Use in Children

CE Program: University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy

KCAC Position Statement: Fact check on the claim that 7 is responsible for the reduction in Fentanyl overdose deaths

KCAC Factsheet

KCAC Members

David Bregger

David Bregger is a retired professional with a wealth of experience in business and sales. Throughout his career, he played a significant role in the growth and success of the companies he worked with, contributing to their expansion across various markets.

Originally from Philadelphia and raised in Cincinnati, David later made his home in New Hampshire, where he raised his two sons. He began his career as an entrepreneur, starting a successful solar heating business before transitioning into sales and business development roles.

After the tragic loss of his son Dan due to a concentrated form of Kratom, David became a passionate advocate for safer regulations. He now works to prevent similar tragedies and supports efforts to make Kratom safer.

Dijon Evans

Dijon Evans, a 61-year-old Sacramento resident, is a survivor. Living with chronic pain from complex regional pain syndrome, neuralgia, multiple organ failure, and other conditions, Dijon's journey has been marked by surgeries, complications, and the loss of a limb. After traditional pain management options failed, Dijon found hope in kratom, a plant used for centuries in Southeast Asia. Kratom provided pain relief and restored Dijon's sense of purpose, allowing for a life once thought impossible.

Now, Dijon is a strong advocate for Assembly Bill 2365, which would regulate kratom in California, ensuring its safety and accessibility for those who rely on it.

Dr. C. Michael White — Chairman

Dr. C. Michael White is an internationally respected clinical pharmacologist and pharmacist, making him an ideal choice for the inaugural Chairman's role. He has published several comprehensive reviews on kratom and has been interviewed by numerous national and international media outlets about this herbal product. His work on kratom is part of his larger body of research on natural products, substances of abuse, and manufacturing quality. 

Dr. White has extensive experience promoting consensus. He directed an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality-designated Evidence-based Practice Center for over a decade, conducting rigorous and unbiased reviews of biomedical literature. These projects included key informant stakeholders who provided insight into the research questions and methods used to answer them.

"I am excited to gather this council together and learn about their experiences and thoughts regarding kratom," said Dr. White. "By sharing and discussing the evidence, we can ensure that everyone has the same platform of knowledge. Together, we will look for ways to maximize kratom’s potential benefits and minimize the chances of harm for consumers."

Travis Ray

Travis Ray is from Willmington, NC.  He started using opioids to get high at a young age and given the tolerance he developed, kept moving to higher doses and to stronger opioids. Opioids have killed and addicted many people in his community, including some of his own family members. However, he still could not break free from his addiction. Eventually fentanyl was the only opioid potent enough to work for him, but he knew it was a life-threatening choice. He tried Suboxone and it was effective but kept him feeling like he was in a permanent fog. He couldn't always access the product and because it wasn't covered by his insurance, he couldn't afford to continue it and returned to using illicit fentanyl. When the illicit fentanyl supply started getting laced with hidden ingredients like the animal tranquilizer xylazine, he started looking for alternatives. Several months ago, he started using whole leaf kratom and realized that small doses could control his withdrawals from fentanyl. He felt more energy and that he had more control over his choices than he had in a long time and once fentanyl was completely out of his system and those withdrawals subsided, he was able to slowly get off of kratom as well. He joined the KCAC because he understands that not everyone has access to substance abuse support services and products and for people like him kratom brings the possibility of self-management. He worries that without kratom, others like him would lose the ability to regain control over their lives. He doesn't want a new generation of semi-synthetic or synthetic "gas station heroin" products hooking the next generation of people and wants to be sure that kratom products are used safely by consumers through sensible regulation.  

Brendan Johnson

Brendan Johnson is a 36-year-old from Rochester, NY. He has suffered from chronic pain for years in his back and knees, requiring a cane just to get around. His doctors prescribed opioids to manage his pain, but he had to escalate his dose again and again over time just to get the same level of pain relief. Eventually, he realized that he wasn’t only dependent on opioids for pain relief but was addicted to them as well. He would alternate between being in pain and then being overly sedated, which made it hard for him to engage in regular activities. His doctors did not have any other options available to him which left him feeling isolated and demoralized. He started using kratom and found that it controlled his pain but didn’t make him sleepy like opioids did. It didn’t cause any euphoric feelings like regular opioids, and he wasn’t worried about kratom stopping him from breathing. He believes that kratom was a turning point in his life, putting him on the path to a more active and normal life without the cravings and sedation seen with opioids. He has been able to step down his kratom dosage over time, something he never experienced while taking opioids. He joined the KCAC because he is concerned that citizens like him who are out of options for their pain or opioid addictions will be denied access to kratom. He believes there are bad actors coming in the marketplace selling semi-synthetic and synthetic “gas station heroin” products under the name of kratom pushing legislators to entertain bans. He advocates strongly for reasonable solutions to protect consumers while maintaining access to this natural remedy that has helped people for centuries in Southeast Asia and made a major difference in his life as well.

KCAC Goals

  • The KCAC will show that diverse stakeholders can find common ground on complex issues.

  • Providing policy recommendations prioritizing safety, access and informed decision-making.

  • Work to increase public understanding of the complexities surrounding kratom.

  • The KCAC will serve as an example of how to approach contentious issues with open dialogue and a commitment to finding solutions.

  • Work to improve industry standards and consumer protection regulations.

  • Influence the Global Kratom Coalition’s direction and industry practices through direct stakeholder engagement.

Apply to Become a Member

Who We're Looking For:

  • Researchers & Scientists: Professionals actively studying kratom.

  • Advocates & Critics: Individuals who are passionate about kratom, whether to support its responsible use or concerned about its potential risks.