This past summer, I interned at New Futures, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization advocating to improve the health and well-being of Granite Staters through public policy change. My responsibilities included tabling at community events, participating in health coalitions throughout the state and meeting individuals with stories to share about experiences with health in New Hampshire.
Through coalition meetings and community events, I began hearing more and more about the prevalence and impact of unregulated substances throughout the state. I have grown increasingly concerned not only by the risk associated with these products, but also by how little I knew about them myself. As a high school student, I am deeply concerned about the impacts these products could have on my peers and kids even younger than us.
One product that came up frequently was kratom. Derived from the Mitragyna speciosa plant native to Southeast Asia, kratom can have stimulant-like effects at lower doses and opioid-like effects at higher doses. While traditional kratom is plant-based, synthetic and semi-synthetic versions have become increasingly common and can be far more potent, unpredictable and dangerous. Between 2015 and 2025, kratom-related calls to U.S. poison control centers rose by more than 1,200%, while the multibillion-dollar kratom market continued to expand.
What shocked me was not the existence of these products but rather their prevalence and how they are advertised. Kratom is sold in many forms, like tablets, powder shots and single-shot bottles that closely resemble familiar drinks like 5-hour Energy. Companies frequently advertise these products as natural or organic, creating an impression of safety despite the serious potential health risks.
Similar tactics appear in the marketing of other popular unregulated substances, including hemp-derived THC, nitrous oxide, amyl nitrite “poppers” and blue lotus products, all of which are prevalent throughout New Hampshire.
Youth are particularly vulnerable to deceptive packaging. Hemp-derived THC products — such as medicated Nerd Rope Bites and “Starbuds” gummie — closely imitate popular candy brands through nearly identical fonts and designs. Information about the actual contents may appear only in fine print or misrepresent the total substance levels. Chances are that a young kid won’t question the safety of a bag of candy. They assume that if something were dangerous, then it wouldn’t be available for them.
This issue isn’t isolated to youth, however. Adults are misled too, as everyone relies on government regulation and clear labeling to know what they’re buying. But the risk is sharper for kids, who don’t have the context or experience to question what’s in front of them.
That seems to be the central problem. These products are entering and flooding the market faster than lawmakers and regulators can respond, as well as faster than the vast majority of consumers can comprehend. Companies have a financial incentive to exploit regulatory gaps, lean on misleading packaging, and take advantage of unclear, outdated definitions in order to increase profits. The general public, meanwhile, remains unprepared.
I am especially concerned about how unaware I was of these substances before my internship. I consider myself a relatively observant and informed person; yet, had I not encountered these conversations through New Futures, I might never have thought to look more closely at how these products are marketed, sold or regulated. That doesn’t give me much hope for the preparedness of youth at large.
I am not an expert on kratom, hemp-derived THC or any of these other substances. Most people are not, and they should not have to be — and certainly youth shouldn’t. Consumers deserve clear information about the products they buy, especially when those products carry serious health risks.
The government has a responsibility to protect the public, and that entails keeping pace with new products and marketing strategies. New legislation should address emerging unregulated substances directly and comprehensively, curb youth-targeted marketing, and prioritize prevention. Protecting the health and well-being of New Hampshire residents is crucial and hinges on an effective, proactive regulatory system.
Iris LaMoreaux is a rising senior at St. Paul’s School and a resident of Plymouth. After graduation, she plans to advance her studies in public policy.