We parents have quite the challenge on our hands these days. When it comes to drug use, no longer can we concern ourselves with simply teaching kids about the dangers of illicit substances and how to avoid them.
Now we have to dive headfirst down the rabbit hole to pro-actively inform them about legal drugs that they (and ourselves) may benignly encounter under legitimate, seemingly safe, scenarios. Kratom is one such substance that is proliferating like wildfire, threatening unsuspecting consumers – and children – with its little known addictive effects in the process.
What is Kratom?
Kratom is a plant native to Southeast Asia. It contains the substance mitragynine, which is a powerful psychoactive alkaloid.
Not surprisingly, in this part of the world, kratom is popular as a recreational drug.
Kratom Tea
Prepared as a dried and ground herb, kratom tea is a deep green powder that looks strikingly similar to matcha. It is promoted as helpful for anxiety and pain, making those seeking a lifestyle boost particularly vulnerable.
Fans of kratom say it is safe because it has been used in Asia as natural medicine for centuries. Further, they claim that dangerous side effects only potentially occur when mixed with alcohol or drugs.
Here in the North America, this herb is unregulated with dried and crushed versions commonly taken in pill form or brewed into tea.
Even more worrisome, many places that serve kratom tea spike it with CBD oil, increasing the synergistic dangers for a psychotic episode.
One of the first to address the problem, New York City recently banned edibles and drinks containing CBD in bars and restaurants. As of this writing, however, it has taken no action on kratom. (1, 2)
Popular at tea bars where young people like to hang out, kratom is popular for triggering an opioid-like effect. Depending on the dose, those who consume it may experience stimulant like effects or even mild euphoria. Hence the aggressive marketing to “naturally” treat anxiety and pain.
Kratom is Unregulated
Currently, there are no age restrictions on kratom use. This means a minor can order it on their own, and it is frequently available in places where no alcohol is served giving the false impression of safety.
This substance is already the subject of at least one lawsuit, by the parent of a teenager in my local area.
Kratom is suspected of causing brain damage in a 19 year old who drank it frequently starting at age 15 at several tea cafes near her home.
Then, out of the blue, the young woman began to suffer from “psychotic episodes and hallucinations so severe that she was confined” to a nursing home. Her physician made the connection between kratom and her brain injury. The suit alleges that the tea bars failed to warn about its dangerous side effects, making them liable for damages. (3)
Disability from kratom seems to be the tip of the iceberg.
The Food and Drug Administration has linked kratom to dozens of deaths in the United States over a nine-year period. To date, however, the agency has taken no action on prohibiting or regulating its use, saying only that:
There are no FDA-approved uses for kratom, and the agency has received concerning reports about the safety of kratom. FDA is actively evaluating all available scientific information on this issue and continues to warn consumers not to use any products labeled as containing the botanical substance kratom or its psychoactive compounds, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. FDA encourages more research to better understand kratom’s safety profile, including the use of kratom combined with other drugs. (4)
Kratom Effects
Fans of kratom claim that its effects are beneficial and can help wean people off deadly opioid abuse. While potentially true (more research is needed though – see below), it doesn’t justify easy kratom availability to minors.
What about people who don’t or have never even used opioids?
According to the FDA, kratom “affects the same opioid brain receptors as morphine, [and] appears to have properties that expose users to the risks of addiction, abuse, and dependence.” (5)
Does this seem like a substance that a 15 year old girl as described above should be able to freely consume at a local tea bar?
Short Term Symptoms
One or more symptoms typically appear within 5-10 minutes of consuming kratom. They usually last between 2-5 hours. The complete list of short term side effects from consuming kratom in tea or capsule form include: (6)
- Skin: Itching, sweating, dry mouth
- Excretory: Constipation, diarrhea, increased urination
- Cardiovascular: Fast or fluttering heartbeat, panic attacks
- Neurological: Feelings of agitation, irritability, or uneasiness, drowsiness, loss of muscle coordination in arms or legs, hallucinations, seizures
- Gastrointestinal: Loss of appetite, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, liver damage
Long Term Dangers
Kratom dependency is documented in the scientific literature in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependency. More than half of users who consumed kratom for six months or longer develop severe dependency problems. The other half show moderate addiction.
Did you get that?
Nearly 100% of people using kratom for 6 months or longer were addicted – either moderately or severely.
Those who consumed 3 or more glasses per day had a higher risk of developing severe addiction. These individuals were also likely to experience uncontrollable kratom cravings and withdrawal symptoms which included: (7)
Physical
- Muscle spasms
- Pain
- Insomnia
- Watery eyes/nose
- Hot flashes
- Fever
- Decreased appetite
- Diarrhea
Psychological
- Restlessness
- Tension
- Anger
- Sadness
- Nervousness
The journal Addiction Biology also warns of the “evidence for an addiction potential with cognitive impairments for mitragynine [kratom], which suggest its classification as a harmful drug”. (8)
The Effects of Kratom – Bottom Line
The current scientific literature on kratom summarized above is certainly ominous.
However, much more research needs to be done on the effects of kratom.
The best information we have at present is what doctors have observed about dependence in a clinical setting from individual patients experiencing addiction and/or withdrawal symptoms.
In the meantime, savvy parents will take the initiative to warn their children to avoid this herb when frequenting cafes and restaurants with their friends.
I certainly love a good natural remedy as much as anyone, but just because something is natural does not make it safe!
Just Say No … to Kratom!
References
(1) New York City bans CBD in bars and restaurants
(2) Legality of Kratom in New York
(3) Lawsuit says Kratom Tea Caused Teen’s Brain Damage
(4, 5) FDA and Kratom
(6) Kratom Side Effects
(7) Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) dependence, withdrawal symptoms and craving in regular users
(8) Abuse potential and adverse cognitive effects of mitragynine
While I understand the fear of kratom being unregulated I also think it’s an unnecessary fear. I have used it to manage my Crohn’s disease pain for years and it has turned my life around. Doesn’t cause a stupor or drowsy reaction the way pain meds often do and it helps me function while flared up. Also, I strongly suggest you do research on FDA’s claims when it comes to deaths from Kratom. I’m not here to cause a debate but you should definitely look at those cases for yourself. None of them have been from Kratom alone and nothing to link kratom to anything related to the deaths. Anyway make sure you research these claims and also how the FDA is going about its “research” and what companies are funding it. I highly recommend you try kratom (after thorough research) for your chronic pain. It has changed my life.
I was prescribed 150 milligrams per day of oxy for several years because of numerous injuries and several surgeries to repair blown discs and torn ligaments all over my body,shoulders,knees and back!In lots of pain daily hardly ever happy.I started taking kratom 2 years ago and haven’t had any opoids since,still in pain but not as much as when taking pain meds,I take a teaspoon every 6 hours and many times I go past 6 hours not having any withdrawal symptoms,I do have some symptoms when I go past 8 hours but nothing compared to when I was on opoids!I am in firm belief kratom saved my life and gave me my life back!It hasn’t fixed me by no means but compared to opoids it is in no comparison as addictive as opoids!If I had to go back to opoids to help control my pain it would devastated my life,don’t know if I would might just have to suffer.
Yes it needs to be regulated and only sold by professional, competent companies/people who know what they’re doing, who make sure it is processed in its natural state without any additives or made into extracts, and not allowed for sale to minors. Adults though should be allowed to choose how they wish to self medicate if they choose to not go the pharmacuetical route. We can learn from our mistakes with it as humans do when we try something natural and new to us to see if it helps combat our medical/psychological/mental issues instead of taking ridiculous, addictive and expensive pharmaceutical drugs that usually only make people worse off and heavily addicted/dependent to them. Kratom is an amazing plant with countless positive properties and a few small negative side effects such as nausea and headaches when over-consumed in one sitting. The so-called deaths you speak of were all studied within the scientific community and found that everyone who had kratom in their system also had other high doses of painkillers, benzos and other medications in their system at the same time. Simple rule for anything is not to mix whatever you’re doing to self-medicate because unless you’ve researched it or tried it yourself, it could cause issues. I’ve taken kratom for 7 years on/off in mostly light doses, as it has helped me to combat chronic depression. In the beginning it took some time to find my correct dose, while also figuring out the best method to combat any kind of dependency to it. When i do need to take a break from it, it creates the same symptoms like when i try to stop drinking coffee, or stop eating sugars (as i do being a health nut) or quitting cigarettes or cannabis – i develop slight symptoms that make me restless and not sleep well, or crave it more and feel like i need it to get by, but in a very mild way. I also do get slight body temperature fluctuations from time to time when i stop, but after 2-3 days these light inconvenient symptoms subside. Again, this is only with lower doses. People who take much larger doses and have been using it for years without stopping may have harder problems when stopping use of it, so we need to educate people on how to use this special plant in moderation, like everything in this world. Ive also been addicted to FDA approved + prescribed painkillers as these just pulled my life into a downward spiral of addiction and hopelessness all thanks to what doctors thought i needed to help with physical pain. Ive been pharmaceutical free for 7 years now and the kratom has helped me to live the life that i want to live without any issues while actually being a happy and productive member of society. It has given me my life back in a way that no pharmaceutical or doctor has done. I say we just continue to study it and keep it allowed for adults to consume in its pure natural leafy state.
I use Kratom daily. And tho it may have withdrawl if I do not take it,It is no where near as bad as coming off thr pain killers I was prescribed for years to deal with my chronic pain. I would rather take a plant than chemicals any day. And yes I know reults verry between ppl.
Very good exposé! THANK YOU! It’s sad how Red Ice Creations was pushing this stuff a couple years ago.
My adult son has been addicted to Kratom for 10-15 years at a cost of over 1,000 per month. He has tried to quit on his own but has been unsuccessful. We have encouraged a treatment center but he keeps saying it’s not a problem and he could quit if he wanted to. He’s about to lose his wife and daughter if he doesn’t take action but insists he doesn’t have a problem. A couple years ago we saw on the news that it was going to be banned, we were excited thinking this would force him to quit but it’s still available. I would never recommend someone try Kratom, it’s dangerous, addictive and unhealthy. My son has lost so much weight and muscle mass since starting this drug. He looks so unhealthy but there is nothing I can say or do since he has to make the decision to seek treatment. He won’t even try NA, AA, or Alanon!
Thank you SO much…you give me hope!
I’d like to get your opinion. I’ve considered Kratom for pain relief (from an injury that doctors only prescribe opiates for, which I’m unwilling to take)…I always try to go ‘natural’ first. My question is, in your article all examples/negative reactions sited, appeared to be from ‘overuse’, is it possible to take ‘small doses’ to manage pain without the severe reactions. Are the negative reactions caused only from ‘mis-use’? Thanks for any help figuring this out.
I do think there is a place for kratom in the treatment of chronic illness or pain. Currently it is completely unregulated and available freely even to people who have no idea how powerful a drug it truly is and would never take use it if they knew … they just know it as an herb and therefore it must be “safe”.
For medical pain management as you describe, kratom could be very helpful especially as you suggest, to avoid opiates! I would suggest that you reach out to a functional physician in your area who can help guide you in this process to determine the dosage that might work best for what you are dealing with.
It is harmful for people who start out taking it for mood elevation or anxiety. You end up addicted and the withdrawal is multiple days of shakes, shivers, headache. My husband couldn’t get out of bed for three days. He thought it would help with his adhd
It is amazing for actual opiate addicts. It pleases those receptors without overdosing. Yes, it’s dangerous to the people who want the masses addicted to prescription drugs, and then overdosing. It cuts into their bottom line.
You make some good points and so far no one that advocates for Kratom legality has ever been for access for minors. That being said the thing you skipped mentioning is the FDA has refused to work with advocates, Congress and anyone to address regulation of Kratom in a way to create a safer framework of laws. They gave refused to talk to Congress about taking on oversight kf companies marketing it, refused to address contamination and adulteration issues that exist when they wont oversee a market, refused to address vendor audits to make sure companies are practicing as safe a process as possible for adults, refuse to even create a simple education program that can show how to mitigate any risks that exist.
So at the end of the day it’s easy to blame a plant for the issues, why are we not also calling on the FDA to actually do their job and if the laws dont allow them to do that why are they not talking to Congress about creating a framework of laws that allow for informed adults to make their decision and at the same time creating oversight and regulation to address issues just like you have pointed out?
Isnt that the actual job we pay federal agencies and their staff to do?