Burlington Board of Health Forms Kratom Subcommittee, Cites Surge in Exposures

BURLINGTON — April 14, 2026 — Burlington Board of Health moves to regulate kratom after finding the stimulant sold without age limits at seven or more town establishments. Public Health Director Susan Lumenello presented data from a March 26, 2026, CDC report showing national kratom-related poisoning center exposures reached 3,434 in 2025, a 1,200 percent increase from 2015, with single-substance hospitalizations rising from 43 to 538 in the same period. The board voted unanimously to form a subcommittee led by Chair Gayle DaMore and new member Orysia Hanushevsky, with Vice Chair Andrea Sheehan and Dr. Marwa El-Sabbahy available to assist; Lumenello said regulations could take effect as quickly as one month after a public hearing. Burlington school officials reported no current kratom use in schools but endorsed action, with Assistant Superintendent Lisa Chen saying, "If we can prevent something from happening for our students, it's actually a good thing." The board also reseated DaMore as chair and Sheehan as vice chair 5-0 and approved a keeping-of-animals permit for four hens at 1 Eugene Road.