One of the most frustrating aspects of kratom addiction is post-acute withdrawal syndrome, or PAWS. Regular opioid use can lead to a condition called ‘hyperalgesia,’ which is basically the opposite of analgesia (pain relief). On the other hand, if you take one dose daily — even if it’s a relatively large dose — your body has much more time to return to baseline. You will likely be able to avoid the process of downregulation for longer if you’re just using a single dose. Even very large doses of kratom are fairly safe for a number of reasons. Researchers are still unsure of what causes kratom addiction, but it’s pretty clear that limiting your use helps prevent it [5].
- Over an 18-month period, kratom was found to be a factor in more than 90 fatal overdoses.
- These two deaths are not the only ones as there have been dozens of deaths in the US that involved kratom.
- Some people say kratom can’t be dangerous — after all, it’s natural and derived directly from plants.
- A 2022 review reported Suboxone (buprenorphine-naloxone) as a promising detox treatment in people who were dependent on kratom.
- In the same study, however, it was reported that a much more significant 10.3% of people with opioid use disorder were using kratom, which provides important context to our knowledge about why it’s used.
Are there natural alternatives to Kratom for pain management and mood enhancement?
Kratom addiction refers to the compulsive use of Kratom, a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Kratom leaves contain psychoactive compounds that interact with opioid receptors in the brain, producing effects similar to opioids such as pain relief, sedation, and euphoria. Seeking treatment for kratom addiction starts with consulting addiction treatment centers, healthcare professionals, or support groups. Online resources and community-based programs also provide valuable support during recovery.
Drug Control Policies and Implications
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and NIDA support and conduct research to measure and better understand the short- and long-term safety risks of kratom use and inform policy around kratom regulation. Behavioral therapy refers to all forms of therapy aimed at helping you identify and change self-destructive attitudes and behaviors, particularly those that lead to drug use. A therapist can work with you to help you cope with cravings, avoid drugs, and prevent relapse. At high doses, it can have pain-relieving (analgesic) and sleep-inducing (sedative) effects. Kratom comes from a tree found in tropical regions of Southeast Asia.
Kratom Addiction: Science vs. Misinformation
While intervention may motivate your loved one to seek help for an addiction, there are no guarantees. Confrontation-style interventions can have the opposite effect, leading to anger, mistrust, or isolation. This may lead to severe effects, magic mushroom side effects such as liver damage and death. But kratom hasn’t been shown to be safe or to treat any medical conditions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned people not to use kratom because of possible harm it can cause.
How to find a treatment center
Next, learn more about risks and side effects, including the signs of intoxication or overdose. Investigate potential treatment options to present to your loved one. People who use kratom report that at low doses, kratom acts as an upper, called a stimulant. That means it makes them more alert and gives them more energy. At higher doses, people who use it report that it reduces pain and makes them feel calm and less anxious, also called a sedative.
These symptoms vary in intensity based on factors such as duration of kratom use, dosage, individual physiology, and co-occurring mental health conditions. Researchers are trying to identify the most critical psychoactive chemicals in the plant to develop novel medicines with increased efficacy and safety. One underappreciated but important area is pain medication development, and kratom and its active ingredients may be a new answer. “We do need desperately for something to be as efficacious (as opioids) in pain treatment, but hopefully without the liabilities.
Psilocybin and psilocin are illegal at both the federal and state level. Plenty of highly addictive substances are sold legally, from alcohol to nicotine. But when it comes to Feel Free, a novelty substance in the U.S. that’s marketed as a healthy, risk-free alternative to alcohol, there’s a clear distinction. Many people report being swept in by Feel Free’s wellness-inspired marketing. “It gives you something to lie to yourself about,” says Tabbert.
Detoxification depends on factors like duration and frequency of kratom use, with the FDA saying those who use several times per day experienced greater withdrawal symptoms. Reports of supervised detox from kratom are insufficient to draw conclusions. Drug dependence refers to a physical state in which your body is dependent on a drug. You need more and more of the substance to achieve the same effect (tolerance).
Long-term effects include organ damage, mental health disorders, and social difficulties if untreated. In 2021, the FDA received 78 reports (75 adverse event reports and three product complaints) involving kratom products. Of 75 reports, there were 20 deaths (27 percent) addiction treatment national institute on drug abuse nida and 20 hospitalizations (27 percent). Results of medical examination and toxicology testing were obtained for 10 death reports. Kratom toxicity was the sole cause of death in four cases (40 percent), and a contributory factor in the other six cases (60 percent).
Dependence, for example, is a state of adaptation in the body that develops after repeated use of the drug. In this state, a person isn’t mentally obsessed alcohol abuse and alcoholism or attached to the drug. However, if the drug is discontinued abruptly, withdrawal symptoms can occur and may require medical assistance to taper off.
Severe kratom withdrawal is also believed to affect half of those who abuse this drug, which makes it especially dangerous to abuse considering the painful withdrawal symptoms that this substance can trigger. Luckily, there are many options for care that you can access that are capable of changing your life for the better. When you begin a program that is equipped to care for the complex nature of kratom addiction, it’s possible for you to truly reclaim your life from substance abuse and begin living to your potential. Researchers say most people who use kratom report using it for more than one reason. Kratom addiction can have significant effects on mental health. Users may experience increased anxiety, depression, or mood swings as a result of regular Kratom use.
Rehab centers will hook you up with therapists, group meetings, and education that you can use to overcome your addiction. If you’re already addicted to kratom, or if you know someone who is, there are a number of solutions you might want to take advantage of. PAWS symptoms do go away, but it may take a longer period of time. Seeking the help of a therapist can help, as can engaging in activities that can restore brain function, such as meditation. If insomnia leads to sleep deprivation, a number of other issues can emerge.
Not everyone agrees on whether kratom should be restricted or banned. Singletary says prominent warnings should be required with age restrictions on sales of kratom. Placing the substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) could criminalize consumers and possession and increase overdose deaths. We provide our readers with factual, evidence-based content concerning the causes and nature of addiction, as well as available treatment options. However, this informative content is intended for educational purposes only.
Effects occur within 5 to 10 minutes after ingestion and last 2 to 5 hours. Kratom is a psychoactive substance derived from Mitragyna speciosa, a tropical evergreen tree from Southeast Asia that hails from the same family as the coffee tree. Containing compounds that produce psychotropic (mind-altering) effects, the leaves of the tree can be chewed, ground into a powder, or taken as an extract or gum. U.S. and international agencies have expressed concern that kratom products may cause serious harm.1 There are no uses for kratom approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the FDA has warned consumers not to use kratom products because of potential adverse effects.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration calls kratom a drug of concern. Users swear by kratom for lifting mood and boosting energy, but there are many safety issues and questions about whether kratom works. The best way to manage a kratom addiction is to taper down your use — regulate your dose size and avoid taking it every day — or avoid it altogether.
Regulation to control dose and minimize risks of contaminated, adulterated, and inappropriately marketed products is recommended. The professors warn, “As researchers…we strongly recommend that kratom in its native form (unadulterated fresh or dried leaf material) remain available to consumers. Kratom’s opioid-like effects have sparked concern about its high potential for abuse and addiction.
Kratom withdrawal symptoms are often more physically intense, reflecting its interaction with opioid receptors. These can include muscle aches, insomnia, irritability, aggression, emotional changes, runny nose, and sweating. In contrast, marijuana withdrawal symptoms tend to be less severe and more psychological in nature, including mood swings, cravings, restlessness, sleep difficulties, and in some cases, depression. Treatment for Kratom addiction is a smorgasbord of medical therapies and behavioral interventions.
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