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
Kratom is not dangerous. I’ve taken it for 4 years. I never experienced any bad side effects or addiction. I don’t get high off it. The FDA wants it off the shelves because it cannot profit from it. They are on a campaign to ban it. This article is misinformation.
This article doesn’t suggest banning it … only common sense regulation to prevent minors and unsuspecting adults from taking it! It should not be served and available in cafes!
You are so right. Look at the numbers. Statistics show 100 times more death, abuse, & millions of dollars in costs to society with alcohol and there are thousands of teens with alcohol issues despite it being legal & related. Kratom is a threat to Big Pharma & Big Pharma controls all the wealth in the world.
my husband took kratom to help with pain and just feeling bad. He got up to 10 large doses a day. It has been 9 months since he quit, he is still having severe side effects. Extreme anxiety, feeling of hopelessness, somtimes felling like he just can’t cope. He didn’t have these issues before taking Kratom. Is there something that can help him or is this a permanent condition?
There are 5,000,000 Kratom users in the US. The FDA claims 36 Kratom related deaths (means they had Kratom in their system when they died. Nearly all had other drugs as well) in 9 years. Compare that to 150 annual deaths from FDA approved Tylenol/acetaminophen.
I can go on and on
Acetaminophen overdose is the leading cause for calls to Poison Control Centers (>100,000/year) and accounts for more than 56,000 emergency room visits, 2,600 hospitalizations, and an estimated 458 deaths due to acute liver failure each year. Data from the U.S. Acute Liver Failure Study Group registry of more than 700 patients with acute liver failure across the United States implicates acetaminophen poisoning in nearly 50% of all acute liver failure in this country
I am a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor as well as a licensed social worker. Look me up if you don’t believe me. I also teach addictions at the University level. This article is full or errors and appears to be basically anti kratom propaganda. While I may not agree with widespread use of Kratom, it’s certainly always better to be abstinent, for you to use scant data to support your claims in hopes of scaring parents is truly unethical. Please do actually research and cite your sources. To say 100% of those who use kratom for six months are addicted is complete rubbish. It’s just not accurate. This is a click bait fear-based article with little to no science backing it. I treat addictions for a living and have had several clients who use kratom. I’ve only had one client in all my years of clinical work who developed any serious dependence to it. Those who become addicted are so because they are using Kratom to come off of harder opiates like heroin or oxycodone, which is actually huge harm reduction. Many people are not addicted to opiates who use it and have no problems whatsoever, in fact this is definitely the majority of Kratom users that I have worked with or have seen.
Deaths linked to alcohol–88,000 deaths per year. 2.5 million years potential years lost (30 potential years of life lost per death). 1 death solely linked to kratom, 43 linked to multiple drugs where kratom was found in system over a 9 year span. You could be helping a lot more by banning alcohol.
I suffer from chronic pain and everything that goes along with it, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. I began taking white maeng da kratom and found it extremely helpful for increased energy and stress relief. I did not experience any negative side effects other than tasting it after burping. I took it daily for two months. I then stopped taking it for about a month because I didn’t have the extra money for it. I did not experience any withdrawal symptoms. I began taking it again and have experienced the same positive effects as before. Please let people decide for themselves. If you don’t live with chronic pain, live everyday with pain, you don’t get it. I agree kids should not be taking it. You have to be 18 to buy it. Of course kids are going to get a hold of it, just like alcohol and cigarettes. So do we outlaw those also. As a retired nurse I have seen the effects of alcohol on people and by far more people die from alcohol abuse than any other drug.
First of all, I’d like to thank Sarah Pope for posting this. I think it’s very important for parents to be aware of what their children are using and the possible risks.
Addressing Ellen:
I am a 48 year old recovering alcoholic (26 years) and am terrified of the current opioids being prescribed. I left my job doing social work and began welding school last fall. I have a long term, repetitive use injury in both wrists (tendonitis). I’m sure you can imagine that all of the power tool use and grinding involved in welding was becoming unmanageable. I would NOT use opioids.
A medical professional, who leans toward a hollistic approach, recommended I try Kratom.
I researched it as fully as I could and checked reviews on suppliers and decided to try it.
It has been a miracle for me in school.
I use 1/4 teaspoon twice each day of one variety and 1/4 teaspoon at night of another. I also combine this with a morning and bedtime dose of CBD isolate (no THC) from a company with an excellent reputation. The only negative side effect I’ve experienced, so far, is an occasional upset tummy, similar but much less severe than when I take aspirin or ibuprofen.
I am NOT recommending this course to anyone. I am simply sharing my experience.
Herbs are fairly complex and human bodies are fairly complex and the reactions of a body to an herbal treatment cannot be determined until someone uses it.
Should you decide to go ahead and try Kratom, I would recommend extensive research on suppliers, personal experiences, varieties, etc.
One problem with most of the studies and anecdotal stories both for and against Kratom is the lack of mention of dose and variety.
I started out with a relatively tiny dose and it worked. I am still on the same dose after several months (somewhat of an addiction litmus test). I added CBD and found it to have a synergetic pain relieving effect in MY body. This doesn’t make it absolutely “Safe”, but in my case, I find it extremely preferable to opioids or other pharmaceutical options.
I hope this helps!
The “kratom” related deaths all had other drugs involved. I’ve never heard of anyone dying from solely kratom. Kratom is an invaluable tool for people (adults) who would otherwise be stuck with opiates as their only option. Of course, I don’t think children should have access to Kratom, but we need to be careful to not spread exaggerated stories so we don’t risk it being taken away from the millions of adults who it helps every day.
This article does not suggest banning kratom. Not sure why so many are assuming that? I guess they didn’t actually read the article at all!