What’s all this talk about unregulated substances? What is an unregulated substance? Don’t worry. We’ll break it down.
An unregulated substance has little to no regulation by law and is not subject to quality control and safety standards of official drug regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means safety and consistency are compromised (stopoverdose.org).
For example, alcohol, a regulated substance, has health warnings and age restrictions, while Kratom, an emerging unregulated substance, does not explicitly state its content, addictive qualities, negative side effects, or safety dangers. Kratom products like “Feel Free” are marketed as healthy energy sources but may contain concentrated kratom extracts or added ingredients that increase potency and unpredictability. This raises the risk of negative side effects, contamination, or dependence, especially since labeling and quality control are unregulated and inconsistent.
New Hampshire lawmakers currently have several bills under review that would set restrictions and limitations on the sale of these currently unregulated products. To track progress and to learn more about the proposed bills, go to the New Futures website here.
Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Vermont, Louisiana, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C. have already banned Kratom. Many recovery houses are now offering treatment for Kratom addiction.
Kratom is just ONE of the unregulated intoxicants that are problematic. Kratom, Nitrous Oxide (Whippits), Amyl Nitrate (Poppers), Mushroom Products, Delta-8 (Synthetic THC), and Blue Lotus are all unregulated substances that are readily available in gas stations and vape shops across New Hampshire.
The danger is not only in their addictive properties but also in the misleading marketing and low perception of harm. If a teenager can purchase an intoxicant from a convenience store or gas station, they might assume that, because the product is so easy to access, and they market themselves as healthy and “natural,” it can’t be that harmful. This is why education on these subjects is so important.
You can learn more information about unregulated intoxicants here.
You can find prevention, treatment, and recovery resources on The Resource Hub!
Written by Anne Bonner | Marketing and Communications Lead | 4/15/2026.
