Mountainside Recognizes New Kratom Documentary as Defining Moment

Treatment center says film reflects patterns long observed in treating kratom use, misuse, and dangerous drug interactions.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 3:23pm

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An abstract, ghostly X-ray image of a kratom leaf, its delicate internal structures revealed in glowing lines against a dark background, conceptually representing the hidden dangers of the plant-based extract.The documentary 'Kratom: Side Effects May Include' sheds light on the lethal consequences and regulatory gaps surrounding the controversial supplement.NYC Today

Mountainside Treatment Center is recognizing the new documentary 'Kratom: Side Effects May Include' as a defining cultural moment in the growing national conversation around kratom's risks. The film investigates the lethal consequences and regulatory gaps surrounding kratom, a plant-based extract widely sold in retail settings. Mountainside clinicians have been confronting kratom's dangers for years, treating patients affected by its use, dependency, withdrawal, and dangerous interactions with other substances, including fatal outcomes.

Why it matters

Kratom is a controversial supplement that has slipped through government regulation, and the documentary reflects a growing public health crisis that has long been observed in treatment settings. Mountainside's work extends beyond treatment, as the organization founded one of the first clinician-led national kratom support groups and continues to bridge clinical expertise with public education and advocacy.

The details

The documentary centers on Patti Wheeler, whose son Wyatt died as a result of kratom-related complications, offering a deeply human perspective on a crisis that often unfolds quietly and without warning. Mountainside clinicians have been treating patients affected by kratom use, misuse, and dangerous drug interactions, including cases involving dependency, withdrawal, and fatal outcomes.

  • Mountainside clinicians have been confronting kratom's dangers for years.

The players

Mountainside Treatment Center

A nationally recognized treatment center that has earned ASAM 3.7, Joint Commission, and CARF accreditations, affirming its leadership in substance use disorder and drug and alcohol treatment.

Jamie and Jason Neese

The directors of the documentary 'Kratom: Side Effects May Include'.

Patti Wheeler

The subject of the documentary, whose son Wyatt died as a result of kratom-related complications.

Jana Wu

The Director of Clinical Integration at Mountainside.

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What they’re saying

“It was insane to us that you could buy something in a gas station next to Skittles that could kill you.”

— Jamie and Jason Neese, Directors of 'Kratom: Side Effects May Include'

“This moment represents a convergence. When clinical insight, lived experience and cultural storytelling align, real change becomes possible.”

— Jana Wu, Director of Clinical Integration at Mountainside

The takeaway

The documentary 'Kratom: Side Effects May Include' and Mountainside's work highlight the growing public health crisis surrounding kratom, a controversial supplement that has slipped through government regulation. By bridging clinical expertise, lived experience, and cultural storytelling, Mountainside aims to drive real change and awareness around the lethal consequences and regulatory gaps surrounding kratom.