SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah veteran says kratom helps him manage pain. But health experts warn it’s risky — and now Utah’s part of a nationwide debate over how to regulate it.

For Thor Bebout, living with daily pain means finding alternatives. “Being a disabled veteran, I do take when it’s needed,” Bebout, a veteran living with disabilities said.

Kratom is a supplement made from leaves of a tropical tree that grows in Southeast Asia. It’s legal in Utah and most of the country and is sold in different forms. It’s used for things like pain relief, energy, and relaxation. Some use it to try to ease withdrawal symptoms.

“It relaxes me. I refuse surgery, and I refuse taking pills. I always prefer a holistic approach versus a manufactured approach,” Bebout said.

C. Michael White with the Univers

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