A family is mourning the loss of their son who passed away after consuming a supplement that caused his skin to turn green.
Dominic Roose, a 23-year-old laborer from Pella, Iowa, struggled with severe social anxiety and sought natural remedies online. He purchased a bag of the herbal supplement kratom for $20 and developed an addiction to it due to his previous struggles with alcohol.
On the day of his death in December 2023, Dominic ingested kratom at home and became unwell. Paramedics attempted to revive him but he went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at Knoxville Hospital & Clinics in Iowa.
Doctors advised Dominic’s parents not to view his body, and later autopsy results revealed that his organs and skin had turned green from the supplement usage.
In the United States, regulations on kratom vary by state, with more lenient rules compared to Britain where it is classified as a psychoactive substance.
As they face their third Christmas without Dominic, his family is raising awareness about the dangers of kratom, emphasizing that natural does not equate to safe.
Kristal expressed the pain of losing their son was exacerbated by the lack of awareness about kratom leading up to the tragedy, criticizing the system for not having adequate resources to address kratom addiction.
Although kratom is technically legal, the US FDA has cautioned against its use due to the potential risks of liver toxicity, seizures, and substance use disorder.
The family urges caution and education regarding kratom, highlighting the need for better understanding and support for those struggling with addiction.