Kratom use and serious health problems linked to it have risen dramatically across the United States over the past decade. Poison center reports jumped from just 19 cases in 2010 to more than 1,200 in 2023, while severe outcomes—including life-threatening complications, disability, and death—also climbed sharply. Researchers warn that kratom can trigger seizures, abnormal heart rhythms, liver damage, and breathing problems, with risks potentially increasing when it is combined with other drugs.
Good thing the FDA is looking into Tylenol, then!
I saw video made by someone who kicked an addiction to it. The fact that it’s being sold as a recreational drug is just awful. Absolutely one of the worst things you can buy OTC.
For the curious: https://youtu.be/TLObpcBR2yw
Its not anywhere near as bad as the vast majority of gas station drugs. When taken responsibly, from a legitimate source, and not for recreational purposes it is a relatively safe substance. Its been used for thousands of years without issues in its countries of origin.
The things negatively effecting people are intentional or accidental misuse (including taking it with literally anything else, even alcohol), overconsumption, predisposition to substance abuse, overly concentrated products (leading to unintentional overconsumption), and impure sources of the product.
All of those same things can cause harm to people if the substance is something as basic as Asprin. The difference is that Asprin is a significantly more regulated substance rather than being relatively unregulated.
If kratom were only sold as leaf powder it would be virtually impossible to overdose on, as it would make people vomit before they could take too much. That doesnt stop people from taking a safe amount but taking it too often, but realistically it does not have a tendency to be something the average person would want to take all the time. Some people unfortunately do end up with severe addictions to it, but that is almost always concentrated products that have way more alkaloid content than they could consume in its natural form. It also is usually a result of them taking way more of the concentrated product than they should as is clearly labeled on the packaging.
There are a ton of problems with the lack of regulation in the industry, but people who know nothing about it are quick to misunderstand that the substance itself is not some horrific thing on its own account. The shit is not that bad, nor does it ever make anyone fucked up to the extent that alcohol or marijuana can.
Its a fantastic and safe pain reliving medication when used properly and sparingly. For pharmacological reasons I wont bother to expand on, it is basically an opiate that has significantly less addiction potential than any big pharma pain medicine that exists. Personally I dont like the misuse of it by a handful of people being used to argue that it should be banned or is inherently bad. But thats exactly what big pharma wants for obvious reasons. I suffered from substance abuse issues for many years and I have never had any problem safely taking kratom (and then quitting taking it, most importantly) when I need something stronger than an advil or whatever. I genuinely prefer it to ever taking prescribed opiates for that exact reason
My point wasn’t that people who take it as a way to avoid opiates shouldn’t have access.
But this is unconscionable
That’s a lot of claims for not having a single source to back it up.
Absolutely one of the worst things you can buy OTC
Not even close. Kratom withdrawals never hurt anyone. Phenibut withdrawals can be deadly
And, you know, good old alcohol of course
+1
I recognized that video without even clicking though. It’s a good one.
Yeah, the marketing and presentation of that stuff is so fucked up. I’m a (struggling) ADHD person too, so I feel like I dodged a bullet when I watched this.
Imagine if you could learn about kratom without having to randomly encounter some video on YouTube. The problem isn’t the kratom, it’s a) over-commercialization, b) lack of drug education, c) lack of credibility of the government vis-a-vis drug education due to decades of drug war propaganda.
Ah fuck… They’ll take away the only thing, that helps people with opiate addiction, because they introduced stronger derivates…
Just leave people with a problem, without an option. Great.
I’ve been drinking kratom tea for almost 8 years, started after I stopped drinking alcohol. I use a heaping teaspoon and 4 drops vanilla stevia, usually have 2-4 mugs a day.
It would be a bummer to lose that option. Fuck big pharma.
I’ve taken it for chronic pain for like 15 years now. No issues 🤷. I could still have problems and I accept that, but I’d rather take kratom than opiates.
Yeah, im drinking also 2-4 shots of teaspoon sized Kratom per day, but I only mix it with warm water and honey - and only make it shot sized, because the taste just sucks ass…
With hot water and vanilla stevia I’ve grown to like the taste, it’s palatable and I’m accustomed to it.
Yeah…I fucking hate Stevia o:-)
But good for you :-)Yes it can be bad if overdone. That’s why I’m very specific and know my measure precisely, 4 drops only. Any more and it does that flavor that you hate.
Hm… For now I’ll stick with my proofed honey, but maybe it’s really the dosage, because I only know Stevia from ready meals and stuff.
Maybe I’ll look into it, thanks for the inspiration :-)
ugh. I feel the forces are out to point to a new restriction for the children or such. this could be most easily fixed by making cannibas more accesible rather than it less.