The Spark Re-Airs: The Dangers of Kratom and The South-Central PA Accessible Adventure Guidebook

Kratom is often marketed as a natural or herbal product, but Pennsylvania doctors and toxicology experts say consumers should understand that it can have powerful effects on the brain—and can lead to addiction, serious health problems and even death. On The Spark, Dr. Robb Bassett, associate medical director of the Poison Control Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Dr. Sara Kawasaki, division director of Addiction Services at Penn State College of Medicine, discussed the growing concerns surrounding kratom and products containing its compounds.

For people with disabilities, families with young children, older hikers or anyone looking for a more manageable outdoor adventure, figuring out whether a trail is truly accessible can be difficult. A new guidebook is working to make that process easier. On The Spark, Brooke Lenker and John Naylor, co-authors of the South Central Pennsylvania Accessible Adventure Guidebook, joined Kate Prisby, manager of events and programs with the Keystone Trails Association, to discuss the project and the growing effort to make outdoor recreation more welcoming to people of all abilities.