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
Dozens of cases with side affects? The FDA did not sign off. What about the drugs that the FDA does sign off on with thousands of negative dude affects?
Aww, they should have included me and my buddy in their study! Been using kratom for over a year and no addiction whatsoever. Oh well, guess it could still develop.
Hey Brenda,
I was wondering if you had more information on MMS? I am aware of what it is and how its been demonized. Maybe you can drop me an email?
Stephen….look into white kratom. It is the strain that gives you energy. You can mix it with green or red so that it doesnt make you tired. White kratom has changed my life. I havent drank caffeine for over w years.
It just agrivates me to see and hear all the negatives about the use of Kratom!!! I to was once an opiate user, then a concerned friend told me about Kratom…I am now almost 3 years clean due to the use of Kratom. But on top of that I wad also lactose intolerant and could not eat certain foods DUE to giving diahreah….the use of Kratom has helped regulate my body so now I am able to drink milk and eat dairy products….and eat the foods I could not anymore. I have one BM every morning like clockwork with no constipation!!! I did have trouble sleeping for years even without the opiates….this Kratom has made it to where I can sleep at night. There is no groggy effect or drowsiness….once I lay down my body senses this and will naturally ease off to sleep….I will however have to agree on the age limit though, I don’t think anyone under 18 should be allowed to purchase this product….but that is just me….hope this helps…God Bless….
Dear Sarah
You need to be aware that the mainstream medical establishment and big pharma will demonize and falsely blame any substance that help people stay away from their money making pharmaceuticals. I had lyme disease a few years ago and was abandoned by the mainstream medical cartel. I found Kratom while doing my research on natural pain substances. I was in such terrible pain I didn’t want to live any more. Kratom was a God send to me. I also used MMS (Master Mineral Solution) to rid my body of the bacteria from Lyme. (Do your research on Lyme disease and you will be shocked as to it’s beginnings – well if you dare to go down that rabbit hole). As you can guess by now MMS is now demonized because it has cured 100’s of thousands of people as well. This world is not run by good people I’m afraid to say. It is not easy to stay healthy and avoid sickness in this world anymore. We are left on our own to find real cures for disease. Please do more research on Kratom and maybe go to a few forums and read how much it has helped people. It has a built in mechanism to stop people from taking too much. You will throw up! It’s gives you energy, it helps anxiety, its a natural pain reliever etc etc. Perhaps you should look at Tylenol and related pain releivers that do cause death. They’re still on the market and available to teens too. They are proven to cause your to stomach to bleed etc etc. I have done my research .. you should do yours. Cheers!
Kratom saved my life, because of it I am able to do the things I love, like go mountain biking. Before I struggled with to much pain that led to depression on a suicidal level. I tried doctors, all the pills they put me on had horrible side effects. I’ve been using Kratom for 7 years and the only bad side effect is the awful taste. The FDA has not linked dozens of deaths to Kratom, it’s been proven that every death has had other factors. You should stop spreading misinformation. That girl in Florida who is now psychotic most likely had a dormant mental illness, with 5 million people using Kratom everyday if it caused psychosis it would have happened more than once. I feel bad for her family but they need to realize the facts.
Respectfully I disagree with the idea of regulating it like medical marijuana??? Wow! Look at the states that are reluctant to adhere to medical marijuana… I do think that’ll change … but in my home state it passed last year.. AND still hasn’t been implemented?! The easiest, most productive way to regulate kratom … is exactly what the American Kratom Association has already implemented and suggested?? The natural botanical needs to be left in its natural unadulterated state… not ruined by big pharmaceutical companies who continue to profit from the suffering of mankind worldwide? We respectfully ask you to reconsider your approach… millions of us depend on this natural alternative for survival! I apologize for any rude or inappropriate comments… people are just scared and literally fighting for their lives… sometimes that comes across the wrong way! We want regulations as bad as anyone else!! We want age restrictions… we want unadulterated natural kratom that’s tested etc…. but even with those regulations in place… there will always be “ bad actors “ who abuse a great number of things!! Such as teens huffing paint? Can we ban paint or expect it be heavily regulated? Anyways, I’m getting off topic… whatever happened to this young lady… it’s truly heartbreaking… but I’m confident in those who are advocating for this botanical, and the truth will soon be revealed… my heart truly goes out to her family… but natural unadulterated kratom did NOT cause her health problem… God bless
Kratom has (successfully) helped me manage my pain, from work injuries, my anxiety, and my depression. I have quit drinking alcohol and am living a full and healthy life. My 2 kids and wife have Kratom to thank for me being fully cognisant, and able to roll around in the floor with them.
That which happened to your son is certainly pretty scary, he definitely had a strong reaction to the kratom. Using kratom myself for a year and a half I have learned quite a bit about how to use it. And the number one side effect of the leaf is this: taking a larger dose because tolerance development always needs a larger dose to aquire similar effects equal to previous dosage and caffeine and cannabis works similarly. So I have had similar effects. When I first started kratom, I would take a table spoon and then I would get very, very tired and tiredness can get very dangerous because everything you and me need to do in life requires alertness and being awake and tiredness is like sleep deprivation which can get very dangerous. Because kratom has been able to stop traumatic back spasms which are so bad that that they could lead to a catastrophic accident and also giving me a regularity which is even more effective than coffee or prune juice and giving me an extra amount of dopamine to combat early morning sickness which is something I have struggled with my entire life. So I can thank kratom for helping me with my life and lessening be suffering.
But like you said it is nothing to mess with. I like taking kratom with caffeine in the morning and I am a person who will not willingly take any food or drugs that lowers ones ability and so far I doubt kratom is harmful like most prescription drugs.
Wish you the best.
Sincerely, Earl