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’ve been using kratom in place of opiods and antidepressants that made me angry and tired for over two years.this is the only thing that works for me to manage depression and anxiety, without it I’m a mess and turn to actual drugs. So no kratom isn’t the devil you claim it to be, though there may be a few people whom have had a bad experience. If you’re worked about access that children have to it then regulate it like any other substance and have an adult buy it, though I’m a libertarian and believe all substances should be legal and as long as you aren’t directly hurting others then you should be able to do what you want
Im 61 years old responsible adult caregiving my 96 year old mother, working part time, caring for husband also disabled. I have a college degree, worked since I was 14. My career has been in marketing, technology, the nonprofit sector and corporate. I’m not some kid trying to get high. But because I had to quit a 9 to 5 to care for my mom, I am managing my fibromyalgia as best I can to be functional to care for them and myself. I take 1/2 tsp of kratom usually only once a day, if I get worse from over doing hard work only another half. My husband was also taking it for opiod replacement since he lives in chronic pain. It’s helped both of us immensely.
Why can’t Americans just be responsible for their choices? Why can’t this be about education and regulation and not condemning something that is harmless if taken appropriately? Why can’t you go fatter the alcohol industry that’s killing more people and destroying more lives than opiates and kratom put together? Everyone is so passive about alcohol but it’s the real drug we shpild be managing much better. It’s sold in large quantities at any restaurant or at any of the millions of bars and clubs, sold at our grocery stores… kids are starting their alcoholism in their teens.
The American Kratom Association is working diligently towards regulation with states and pharmacy associations.
You are pulling only the facts you want to see and not the much bigger picture of how many responsible adults and chronic pain patients are being helped. I’m not high, I’m not sitting on a couch vegetating, i am responsible for a lot, more than most face in a lifetime, and this just helps with my health and well being.
Anything can be abused… let’s look at stopping the abuse and not what is being abused. Maybe if parents actually talked with their kids, not you maybe, but others. Maybe we need parenting classes. Or other educational options.
After 10 years of opioids ,last 3 were 90 morphine , 40 of roxys, I do no what a crash landing is
My fourth back fuzion weeks away ,3 hips on L side I do feal I no what pain is . And all nasty side effects comes about . Let’s face it , quality of life is what is best . I’ve had pain to where I tried chocking myself out after a dislocated hip in the hospital .My tolerance was to high .oxymorphone at their level would not touch . Don’t consider me crazy or suicidal. I love my work. My world . But not the pain.found kradom 8 months ago 3 months after I kicked narcotics. Very effective hardly any nasty side effects of the opioids to bear
I have used Kratom for many many years and people like you spreading stuff like this is dangerous to the people that helps
Just how much are these people using to cause such undesirable effects? No article I’ve read gives the doses. Please respond
I have been on opiates for like 10 years. Do you think kratom is better or worst then opiates? I was thinking about trying to get off the opiates but is kratom any better for me????
I don’t think you read or understood the point of the article … you just read a headline and knee jerk commented. 🙁
Have you ever been on an antidepressant and then stopped taking it? It has horrible side effects horrible withdrawals. Why do you point your finger at kratom? You obviously don’t know what your talking about. Gets the facts of kratom before you state what *you thing kratom is,does. For one thing kratom is much safer than any narcotic and any antidepressant. Do you know that antidepressants can cause strokes? One reason I can’t take mine but I can take kratom because its safer, much safer. I’ve learned so much about this miracle botanical leaf and its helped so many including me. Stop these false claims about kratom you know very little about.
I point the finger at kratom because it is legal, unregulated, and children are consuming it thinking it’s healthy. And … it is harming them! Antidepressants aren’t available except from a doctor with a prescription!
I would be very interested in a side-by-side comparison with coffee. I feel like most of these claims would hold true for caffeine, in terms of elevated mood causing addiction if used for 6 months. I use kratom regularly, it has replaced my cup of coffee in the morning.
Most of the negative side effects and “withdrawal” also appear in caffeine abusers, and I would not recommend either for anyone under the age of 18. For a responsible adult to though, I don’t see how it’s any worse than alcohol.
Well, you wouldn’t let your kid drink and that’s legal. As far as I know in my Tri State area where it’s legal. You have to be 18 years old to purchase it. KRATOM has many benefits for people struggling with pain. But, don’t want either be “,loopy” or become physically dependent on an prescription. Same responsibility should be taken using KRATOM as with alcohol.
What you’re forgetting to mention is that kids do have access to kratom no matter their ages in many places in the United States. Here where I live, you can get it easily at cafes. Also, these cafes are not disclosing the dangers .. so unsuspecting adults are using it also who would not touch it otherwise if they were informed.
No functional doctor will recommend Kratom to you. You can get it with out a prescription so they get no money from you if they say to take kratom. On the deaths from kratom the people that died had multiple drugs including narcotics in their system at time of death not just kratom. I live in Nevada and you have to be 18 to purchase kratom. I have been taking kratom for about 8 months. I replaced Tramadol that lowered my testosterone. I stopped taking tramadol and my levels when back up. I feel if you take it for pain control it is ok. But Just like any drug if you take to much it can be dangerous.