American record producer Tay Keith, whose real name was Brytavious LaKeith Chambers, was found dead at his apartment in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 18, during a welfare check. He was 29.Now, nearly three months later, the Nashville Medical Examiner’s Office revealed his cause of death as an accidental drug overdose. Coroners found ketamine, nicotine, alcohol, and mitragynine in his system. The last is an ingredient in kratom.According to Mayo Clinic, kratom is a supplement sold by pharmacies as a mood lifter, energy booster, and pain reliever. It is also a remedy for opium withdrawal.The coroner’s report also revealed that Tay Keith had mild coronary artery disease. No foul play is suspected.More about kratom amid Tay Keith’s cause of death revelationKratom is a dusty green herbal powder extracted from the leaves of an evergreen tree called Mitragyna speciosa, found in Southeast Asia. People who consume it can extract it into a liquid form, swallow or brew it dry, or simply chew the leaves.Kratom, in low doses, can act as an energy stimulant. In high doses, it is known to ease pain and make users feel calmer and less anxious. The supplement is also often used as a sedative.However, kratom has its set of risks, including addiction and, in the case of Tay Keith, death. While popular opinion is that it is natural and therefore safe, kratom sellers often add “more of the active ingredient” than it naturally has. In fact, the labels often fail to mention the amount of active ingredient and users can unknowingly take more than required.Medically speaking, kratom is not known to cure any disease. The FDA warns of its harmful side effects, while the DEA calls it a “drug of concern.”Kratom, when taken with other medicines, is reported to cause a bad reaction, including fatality. Between 2014 and 2019, there were over 3,400 kratom overdoses, many of which led to deaths, seizures, delirium, liver damage, and blood pressure spikes.People who try to quit opium often use kratom. However, that can lead to addiction. The supplement is not regulated in the USA, but federal agencies continue to fight misinformation about its benefits.In December 2023, Tampa Bay Times published a report titled “Hundreds died using kratom in Florida. It was touted as safe.”It reported the death of 33-year-old Jonathan Dampf, a husband and father, who died from an accidental kratom overdose. The report also claimed more than 580 individuals succumbed to kratom in a decade. However, American Kratom Association’s chief lobbyist C. McClain Haddow told the publication that the Florida death numbers were “grossly overstated” and were a result of “anti-kratom propaganda.”Haddow further claimed that the victims may have had underlying medical conditions or used the product “irresponsibly.” For years, the association has claimed that kratom is not fatal unless used with drugs like fentanyl.However, plaintiffs who have won kratom-based wrongful death lawsuits have proven otherwise.Tay Keith, who would have turned 30 on September 20, produced several chart-topping tracks including Nonstop, Jimmy Cooks, and First Person Shooter by Drake and Sicko Mode and 4×4 by Travis Scott.He was a BMI member and signed a publishing deal with the label Warner Chappell Music. Tay Keith received the Best Rap Song nomination at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards for his contribution to Sicko Mode. Besides music producing, he was also a music programmer and songwriter, primarily working with southern hip-hop and trap.Tay Keith’s June 30 memorial took place in his hometown of Memphis, TN. Artists like Gunna, Murda Beatz, and Sexyy Red attended the event alongside friends, family, and fans.