Recently I’ve heard from several parents who are concerned about their child’s use of Kratom.
One parent was concerned about her son because he had gone through a series of relapses. He was working on his recovery and staying off heroin, but then she discovered he was using Kratom.
Kratom is a substance that comes from the leaves of a tree, which is native to the countries of Southeast Asia. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, it can be consumed in the form of an extract, pill or capsule. It can be smoked or added to food. In powder form, users make tea or chew the leaves.
A liquid can be made from the extract. It is used as a pain reliever for sore muscles, relief of diarrhea and cramps as well as an appetite suppressant. Also, it can be a treatment for panic attacks, according to The Mayo Clinic.
Kratom is a supplement that people buy as an energy booster, mood enhancer, pain reliever, and antidote for opioid withdrawal. Some people feel that Kratom has helped wean them off opioids. While some people have found it helpful, it is controversial. Others find it to be a breakthrough medicine for treating addiction and alleviating depression.
Yet, Kratom can produce opiate-like effects. It is marketed as a way out of addiction, but its effects can also be addictive. Several people have found that they needed to return to rehab because of their addiction to Kratom.
Legality of Kratom
Kratom is legal in some states in the US. It is not legal in some other countries, including the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Thailand, and Australia.
Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and Wisconsin are states that don’t allow sales of Kratom. Some cities and counties, including San Diego, California, Sarasota County, Florida, and Jerseyville, Illinois do not allow sales either.
According to the New York Times article, “Kratom, an Addict’s Alternative, Is Found to Be Addictive Itself,” Susan Ash of Norfolk, VA., said she had taken Kratom during treatment for dependence on prescription painkillers, and now uses a small amount daily for chronic pain and depression. Last year, she founded the American Kratom Association, a consumer group of more than 2,000 members that lobbies against state bills to ban the substance.
“We know from all our experiences that Kratom has the potential to be a wonderful medicine,” said Ms. Ash, 46, adding that her organization receives little funding from kratom manufacturers. “We’re all experiencing that it’s changing our lives. We do agree that more science is needed to actually prove this potential that we know it has.”
As in Susan’s case, the drug has been used to help with withdrawal from drugs like heroin. The problem is that it can be addictive. Because of this, many people who use Kratom then struggle with addiction and relapse.
Besides the risk of addiction and relapse, there are other potential adverse health impacts and reasons to be concerned about your child’s use of Kratom.
1. Kratom is easy to find.
You can buy Kratom at health food stores as well as the internet. Because it is so easy to find, it can be a problem if your child has become dependent on it.
2. It can be harmful to your health.
Between 2011 and 2017, the United States poison control centers collected approximately 1,800 Kratom related injury reports, which included high blood pressure, seizures, and fatalities.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, you may experience some undesirable side effects.
These may include:
- Nausea
- Itching
- Sweating
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Increased urination
The potential side effects are even worse if you take Kratom more frequently. You may experience:
- Anorexia
- Weight loss
- Insomnia
- Skin darkening
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
According to the Mayo Clinic, use also affects the mind and the nervous system and could lead to the following more severe issues:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Hallucinations and delusion
- Depression and delusion
- Breathing suppression
- Seizure, coma, and death
The level of toxicity is unclear. As mentioned above, The Mayo Clinic has reported that it is also known to cause psychotic symptoms in some users. Similar to pain medications, opioids, and other drugs, it is possible to overdose on Kratom.
It may surprise you that Kratom isn’t illegal. This is mainly because there are too few studies on the effects.
3. Withdrawal symptoms.
There is no evidence in the research community showing that Kratom is effective at treating withdrawal from recreational drugs. Studies are being done. Unfortunately, people have become dependent, which is a problem.
Muscle aches, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggression, emotional changes, runny nose, and jerky movements are just some of the withdrawal symptoms. What we know for sure is that the use of Kratom is risky, and the side effects and withdrawal symptoms are unpleasant.
If you are concerned about your child’s use of Kratom or any other drug, support, and help is available.
You don’t have to be an expert on drugs to talk to your child. You can help prevent their substance use by learning the basics, staying informed, and being proactive.
Also, your child deserves a healthy, meaningful life. Drug or alcohol misuse of any kind can sabotage that. Remind your child that dependence on alcohol and other drugs can lead to long-term problems or even death.
Your child needs you. Let’s all help prevent addiction and make sure our kids stay safe.
What has been your experience with Kratom? Let us know in the comments.
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I am the mom of an alcoholic son (sober for 120 days) , this is what has brought me to your group. The support I’ve gotten from Cathy, other moms, and the newsletters has helped me through this process.
I was surprised to see Kratom as a topic in this issue. I personally have used Kratom almost daily for 5 years. I suffer chronic pain and I choose Kratom over opioids offered by my physicians. As a nurse, I’m well read about the substance. I researched it extensively before starting to use it. I’m so upset by the “gas station” companies that market adulterated Kratom to our kids. Kratom in its natural form isn’t very interesting, and doesn’t typically produce a “high” so it is concentrated and other substances added. This is what our kids are buying.
Plain unadulterated Kratom is used responsibly by many adults and I appreciate it being legal in my state. These companies marketing it to kids are going to cause my medicine to become illegal. I wish we could allow it to be sold only in its natural form, and only to adults.
If anyone has any questions or comments to send my way, please feel free.
Thanks, Debbie for sharing your experience. I believe in the video that I shared with the article, Dr. McCurdy mentioned that the Kratom that is being sold in the US is different than in its original form. I’m sure you are not alone in using it to help with your chronic pain. There are others who have successfully used it to wean themselves off of opioids. Yet some who have tried it, find themselves needing to go back to rehab. As you mention, they are most likely using a form of Kratom that has been altered. Again, as with everything, everyone is different and their response to a plant-based medication can vary. I’m glad Kratom has helped you and that you have not had any side effects from it.