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
Well I am an advocate for kratom. I still have my husband because of this plant. All the doctor’s wanted to do was drug him up with pain killers for his chronic pain because they cannot figure it out. We found this and almost 5 years later it helps keep his pain under control. He has had no ill side effects, none of the side effects you listed have happened to him. Is it safe for teenagers, maybe/maybe not, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t still be available for adults to take it. Drugs are bad and many are illegal and yet humans still take them. Prescription medications have awful side effects yet people take them blindly everyday without question because the FDA has said it’s ok, those side effects are expected. Then why not regulate kratom and keep it legal. As another commentor said, we pay the federal agency for this exact reason, not to just make something illegal because it cuts into the pockets of the pharmaceutical companies.
Keep kratom legal, lives are at risk!
Kratom is a choice. It can be abused like alchohol and tobacco. Those things are also legal. For those of us who have pain constantly and do not wish to be on narcotics, then Kratom is a great choice. People that abuse it are the true idiots. I’m sick of big pharma companies intervening into our everyday lives. When you abuse anything, there will be consequences. Cigarette smoking is one of the number one things that kills people. But I guess that’s ok.
Spike it with cbd oil!? Oh my God! You guys are literally hysterical.
I cant say enough about the benefits of Kratom and what Kratom has done for my family and I (who have utilized Kratom for a variety of reasons from multiple surgeries to depression). One thing we have all argeed upon is WE DO NOT get high on Kratom….we all also weigh each dose and don’t abuse it….like marijuana, i guess u could probably abuse Kratom….but i am confident in saying like marijuana also you can’t die from just Kratom use alone!
With the side effects of pain medication and antidepressant my family and i all vow we would rather the consumption of Kratom (or marijuana) ANY day!
This controversy is just boiling down to OUR RIGHT to another natural compound WITHOUT having to pay the pharmaceutical companies for permission!!! Please understand this! Kratom is no where near as BAD as opioids or antidepressant and there side effects! Pharmaceuticals companies are very aware of the benefits of Kratom and that millions are turning away there prescription medications from opioids to antidepressant (including suboxine to replace opioids) for the natural substance Kratom, costing them millions-trillions!
Kratom is the future. Natural substance…recognize that pharmaceutical companies are in a frenzy right now over their inability to control their financial loss…. Like trading opioids for subs! #factz
Kratom gave me my life back and got me to get off heroin. The real problem is they want to ban Kratom so they can sell it as an alternative to prescription opiates and big pharma can make money off it. Kratom has natural antagonists so if you take too much it has a reverse effect so the ceiling effect of the so called high doesnt work. It’s not a high you can chase its for pain management anxiety and depression as well and works way better than any prescription opiate and way less addictive. Its the lesser evil. It comes from the coffee family native to the plant itself. If that’s the case why isn’t tobacco banned? It kills millions of people but its legal and same with alcohol. There’s a bigger agenda going on and the people will win over the system. God made this plant and for its purposes. The system isn’t as powerful as God and we the people will stand up for what’s real and what’s right. It’s a harmless plant just like marijuana is and useful to our health as a medicine and purpose. Thank God for everything is already available in nature.
I disagree with just banning it, or setting it as a Schedule 1. Study and regulate it. Since the war on opioid ‘s has emerged, chronic pain patients like myself have been left with ineffective treatment options. Kratom is helpful in mitigating pain. I was prescribed Norco and Kratom is an effective alternative. No 15 year old can legally purchase Kratom. In fact, last time I purchased it, a woman in her mid 20s came in to purchase it, and she was carded by a responsible seller. Kratom helps tens of thousands who can no longer get opioids from their doctors. The war on opioids was and is a knee jerk reaction to a much deeper issue that hasn’t been addressed. And that’s what’s happening with Kratom now. Read the autopsy reports and you’ll see that most ppl who died from Kratom had multiple substances in their system. Yes it needs to be studied and regulated, NOT banned or made illegal. Doing so will open up another can of worms and do more harm than good imo. We need to consider the Portugal model. Look at the reports and you can see that their model works, whereas ours is broken and causing harm.
Joni stated clearly the issue and that is we have an addiction problem in this country right now and that is what needs to be looked at. There has been a “war on drugs” since the 70”s that has done nothing but spend, waste trillions of dollars that could be used productively for rehabilitation. The drug that currently takes the most lives in this country is alcohol and it is legal, 88,000 a year. Higher then current crisis created with opiods, specifically fentanyl.
Banning this drug is not the answer. Continued research and quality controls are important but will then put it out of financial reach of those it benefits. Please when printing opinions walk a mile in the moccasins of others.
The article did NOT suggest banning it.
Are you suggesting it be designated as a Schedule II drug, or just that it be regulated and not be available to people under 18/21? It would be catastrophic for many to do the former, while most who use it would be happy with the latter. Your point is received; it should not be available to children. However, I strongly disagree with those who would outlaw it. That would be extremely reckless, as is allowing children access to it. Thanks for your thoughts on the matter; I do wish that you clarified your position on it’s legal status, however. The knee-jerk reaction you referred to above is likely due to the fact that you do not explicitly offer a solution, just general complaints.
I am suggesting to regulate it like medical marijuana.
I agree some regulations are in need. But to ban this herb should be a crime against human rights! Any Kratom stores I’ve seen you must be at least 18/21 to buy and in my personal experience it is not recreational. It does save lives! I recommend that you go into some Facebook Recovery groups linked to Kratom and read testimonials. Knowing that these people had little to no quality of life before discoverving this herb.
So i used to be a pill junkie and heroin addict for years. I eventually got clean for many years and in between my drug days is when i first tried kratom back in like 2010. I tried it and was like okay it gives you the same high. Now fast forward to 2017 i started taking kratom again because at the time i was active duty military and i obviously couldnt do drugs due to frequent random urine tests. So I decided to jump back on kratom because its the same high as opiates given you take a high dose and it is untraceable in all standarf drug tests. Now fast forward another year and i was still taking kratom 3 times a day at a high dose and the physical dependency is a nightmare. It is equal to in comparison to that of kicking a serious heroine habit. The withdrawels symptoms are a nightmare and can last for over a week. All the symptoms they listed above are present at once for days. Throwing up. Unable to sleep restlessness no energy watery eyes aching body. People are lieing to you when they say kratom is not bad or dont give it a bad rep. Dont get me wrong i love kratom but people that say it is not harmful are full of shit. They are only defending it because it is a cheap efficient legal high that they can go down to the store and by at any given time. So be careful it does not take long to develop a dependency