The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that last year, over 73,000 people died of drug overdoses.
While a lot of attention is currently on fentanyl, in the past few years, a new drug has been slowly causing damage: Kratom. And — it’s legal in most of the U.S.
(NOTE: It’s banned for purchase in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Louisiana, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.)
Kratom is a plant that looks harmless, but when condensed, can have the same euphoric power as opioids, and you can buy it online and at smoke shops, gas stations, and health food stores.
“When it’s getting to the point where it’s a heavy usage, it can go into this euphoria that can be hallucinogenic in its nature,” said Scott Harrell, executive director & CEO of Fresh Start Ministries of Central Florida.
Kratom is a Southeast Asian plant that can be turned into powder, liquid, or tea.
It’s sold online and in gas stations and smoke shops. According to the Wall Street Journal, people use it for energy, focus, pain relief, and to get over opioid addictions.
“What I think the excuse is, is that it’s legal and because it’s legal, it’s a replacement for opioids,” explained Harrell.
And some users say that’s not all.
“It’s not alleviating pain, it’s making other people rich,” said a Fresh Start Ministries client.
Last year, the FDA recommended that 7-OH, a byproduct of kratom, be classified as a controlled substance. Fresh Start Ministries says they had to request a specialized drug test to make sure their clients aren’t using it.
“We have had… some of the guys will say, I just didn’t know it was in there,” recalled Harrell.
Harrell also says kratom is a gateway drug for younger men and can lead to use of other drugs and even overdoses.
“They’ll start with kratom for a night, and then they reach into, you know, looking for a little bit better, bigger, faster fix,” he said
“Kratom is a self-induced death sentence, period,” said a Fresh Start Ministries client.
Just because something is legal doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous.
Harrell has been told by his clients that withdrawal from kratom is not significantly different from withdrawal from other drugs, and Healthline says many symptoms are the same as opiate and opioid withdrawal.
Withdrawal symptoms such as muscle aches, nausea, cramps, and decreased appetite can start as soon as 12 hours after the last dose and last from 3 to 10 days.