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
I was addicted to alcohol and tried rehab, naltrexone and vivitrol. None of these help me at all and I had accepted the fact that I was going to die. I tried kratom and I knew that this was the life saving thing I need, sober almost,4 years. If I didn’t have it I’d definitely be drinking again. There’s tens of thousands of similar experiences. Big pharma doesn’t want us to have something that they see is taking away their customers.
Finally somebody on here that knows what they are talking about. All this fake news and fear mongering around Kratom worries me. Why do stupid people get to make up laws and facts then those of us who don’t whine about everything have to pay for it?
hi yes it’s right here I also wanted to comment about the CBD oil which has also helped save my life and kept me off of pain pills and heroin you people take all the sudden it’s because it’s considered a drug that it’s dangerous to look at the Tylenol that your hospitals feed you and the pain pills that your doctors feed you you guys assume because a doctor gives it to you it’s okay. DO you know that they are paid by pharmaceutical companies to promote whatever drug is hip for the week. And pharmaceutical companies being mad that they’re not getting their money’s worth out of the teenagers anymore because they’re getting off the pain pills and heroin because of this Kratom and CBD oil, are mad and promoting all this bad propaganda against Kratom and CBD to get all of you uneducated people (mother’s, father’s, grandparents), against this newly found natural miracle/wonder drug. I definitely believe it needs to be regulated just like everything else in this world moderation is the key.
there has never been a proven death or overdose that has been related to kratom you cannot OD on kratom. I’ve tried. you just get bad vertigo and feel hungover. That was when I was a bad heroin addict and I had nothing left, going through withdrawals, and a friend gave me a bag of ” green maeng da”, trying to save my life. Now I take it religiously, for the bad back pain I have due to multiple accidents that the doctors put me on pain pills and got me hooked. Now, I have a great job, great family and have kicked the heroin Act.
I agree that it is bad that kratom is unregulated. However, only providing the negatives and advocating for abstinence based education is not the answer. This method has been proved to fail drastically (Take DARE for example). Also, if you quote a news source, keep in mind, this is not actual research and is also biased. In fact, the news article you sourced for the kratom lawsuit goes on to say the lawsuit has no basis at the moment. Just some things to keep in mind. I don’t think fear mongering is the way to help people.
People need to be educated on Substances. This means both positive and negative, without Bias.
Organically grown kratom is an absolute miracle that has improved my quality of life. There are many different varieties with many uses. I take a small amount after lunch most days that provides a caffeine-like boost without the increased heart rate or jitters. I used to also use another type to help me sleep but no longer need it.
I recommend doing your own research as opposed to listening to what online opinion-based articles have to say. Learn about responsible use and buy from a botanical supplier, not a gas station.
I’m generally an advocate for “natural remedies” — I see a an acupuncturist regularly, work with a naturopath, and try to manage my own health through diet and lifestyle choices. I’m so grateful for your article about kratom because I cringe whenever I see signs for the sale of kratom at corner stores. It is not a benign herb by any means. I’m a NICU nurse and kratom has caused some of the worst withdrawal I have ever seen in an infant. Thank you for doing your part to raise awareness that people really need guidance and education if they are going to use kratom.
I suffers from uncontrollable debilitating painful conditions and I am using kratom for my pain and emotional health. It haven’t done any of those bad things to me but it has helped my conditions. It’s not a bad alternative for pharmaceuticals medicine that’s killing people. I’m not additived to it, just as anything else if you misuse it then it is harmful. Because it’s useful use the pharmaceutical companies wants it outlawed because they loses profits to natural products.
I’ve been using kratom for chronic pain going on 13 years. It’s allowed me to have a life, without the fear of becoming addicted to opiates. Kratom may hit the opiate receptors, but it is NOT an opioid. I’ve never once had any withdrawal symptoms from it, perhaps because I’ve never been addicted to pain meds in the first place. Also, kratom does not produce beta arrestin, which is responsible for respiratory depression in a true opiate. So you CANNOT overdose on kratom BY ITSELF. These claims of people”overdosing” & dying from it were taking it with other drugs bottom line. I truly hope you find a better source for your information on this miraculous plant.
I am a chronic pain patient who spent a decade in pain management. I was existing on more than 13 different big
Pharma drugs and nearly bedridden living no life. I have been using Kratom soley for almost 5 years with ZERO adverse affects. I can take it only when I need it and my blood work has never been better. I have never been healthier and I am healthier than I have been in years. It causes absolutely no high and no withdrawl for me. I have also assisted more than 100 people off of Heroine , Methadone , Alcohol and other opiotes with the assistance of Kratom. It is saving lives . This contant attack by the media, big pharma and the FDA is for one reason only, GREED. Wake up people. Science has debunked the FDAs claims that Kratom was ever to blame for any deaths. This is taking money away from big pharma and the FDA and media is assisting.
#wearekratom
#kratomsaveslives
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For chronic pain, I would suggest organic MSM (sulfur) and/or CBD oil. Even without TCH, CBD oil appears to have great results with no side effects like opiods! The sulfur is to help the cells regenerate & fix the cause of the pain.