KAVA Why Is This “Old School” Plant Being Associated with Street-Level Drugs?
Written by:
Jermaine Galloway
December 2025
Kava is a plant-based herbal substance, also known as kava root or Piper Methysticum, native to the Pacific Islands. It has been used for centuries for medicinal, social, recreational, and ceremonial purposes. Only the root, not the leaf is used. It can be ground into a loose powder or pounded to extract a milky liquid that is mixed into beverages.