Addictive Substance Called Kratom Becoming Popular in South Florida
A legal, natural and addictive substance called kratom is becoming increasingly popular in South Florida, according to a news report. Kratom comes from the leaf of a tree grown in Southeast Asia, WPTV reports.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), kratom is widely available on the Internet. The DEA notes that kratom is mainly being abused orally as a tea, but some people chew kratom leaves. An investigation by WPTV found that kratom is available in tobacco shops and in Kava Bars in South Florida, where it is mixed into a tea-like drink. Several doctors told the news program they are seeing more patients who are abusing kratom.
The DEA says that kratom has been described as producing both stimulant and sedative effects. Acute side effects include nausea, itching, sweating, dry mouth, constipation, increased urination and loss of appetite. Kratom consumption can lead to addiction, according to the DEA.
“Some observations on the pharmacology of mitragynine.” Macko, Weisbach and Douglas (1972) reported that mitragynine (active ingredient in Kratom) possesses pain threshold elevating and antitussive properties but no addictive properties. What research has determined it is now addictive?
Kratom can be addictive when abused for a long period of time and high amounts, but the abuse potential itself is minor. But please lets keep in mind that kratom is being used for thousands of years in Asia with any lethal case or potential to damage the users.
While I don’t know of any studies that specifically delve into the addictive properties of Kratom, it’s known that some of the alkaloids in Kratom are opioid agonists. When such things bind to the right opioid receptors, they create a ‘feel good’ environment (endorphins) where the body wants more. By regularly using substances the bind to these receptors, eventually your brain won’t release endorphins like they should, resulting in the dependence on these substances just to feel normal. Over time, you may even have to increase your dosage to feel normal in such cases.
Kratom has been used for a long, long time and aside from the large amount of user reports (anecdotal) regarding Kratom addiction and the Bulletin on Narcotics, 1975; Vol 27(3): 21-27 that specifically studied Kratom addicts, the potential for physical dependence and addiction should be inferred due to what Kratom’s primary alkaloids do: bind to specific opioid receptors.
That WPTV report, though, doesn’t appear to be a reliable or accurate news piece as per the comments. Things like the story purportedly misrepresents the business where Kratom was purchased and the lead character’s credibility was called into question. Plus, the story itself appears to promote a local detox center. All that and they call Kratom a ‘new natural substance’ when it’s an ages-old folk medicine.
While anything that makes you feel good or better can be and is abused (alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, fats, sugars, etc) and can lead to some form of addiction or dependence in some people in some cases, that doesn’t inherently mean it’s a danger to society or to people in general.
I mean, how many people ‘need’ their morning coffee to function? I’m not saying that addiction is good or should be an acceptable norm, but attempting to demonize something simply because it can be addictive or abused shouldn’t be acceptable, either.
Just more propoganda so the DEA can keep us worried enough to continue funding them. The DEA is loosing ground on being effective and worth the tax payers dollars. With 1/2 of their funding being put towards cannabis and their ability to arrest these “offenders” coming to an end, they have to scrounge up something to continue instilling fear in us, so we will continue to give them a budget. Kratom has been around and used for thousands of years and I have personally known about it since the 90′s and all the sudden its now becoming popular… no… kratom is not popular and will not become popular. Its effects aren’t rewarding enough to use on a continual basis; compared to other mind-altering substances.
In the past three years, I have treated two individuals who were addicted to Kratom. One chewed the substance and the other made a tea. When they presented after not using for a little more than 24 hours, both had a COWS score greater than 15 and urine drug screens negative for opiates, oxycodone and benzos. Symptoms were relieved by Subutex. Both were stabilized on Suboxone and easily tapered over three months.
Kratom seems more addictive to some than to others. It is, however, very useful for opiate detox. I was able easily to kick a 5 year opium habit using kratom. Kratom, too, causes withdrawal, down-regulation, etc, but not nearly as bad as opium. It’s a good way to step down for many people who can’t hack it any other way.
Kratom is a rather unique drug in that a low to moderate dose will usually bestimulating, while a high dose is almost always quite sedating. This is apparently because the active alkaloids have both stimulant and sedative effects. For kratom, like many drugs if used on a daily basis for a prolonged period of time, could become a habit hard to break.Before starting to experiment with it set yourself usage guidelines. If you ever find it is hard to stay within your usage guidelines immediately quit using kratom.
Kratom is not popular due to its drug property.It is famous because it is used as an medicine for various purpose like for relief from stress and for other purpose.
Why would drug-seeking addictive people use Kratom when they can just go to you Detox folks for real-life dangerous opiates? You think Kratom is a problem? Come to Florida, where you’ll see that your pharmaceutical heroin (Oxycontin, Bupenorphine) is FAR more dangerous. This is an absolute joke. Find another marketing strategy.
People are going to something weak and pretty benign?? Just think about how big of a deal that is…. then think about some crime…. like rape… Then scream out loud “What the hell are our priorities!?!?!?!?” Imagine the face of a nation that had the same gusto that goes in to protecting the pharmacuticle companies, going towards actually making our people safer and happier. Marijuana is illegal (federally at least), for no apparent reason… No toxicity… makes you lay around, not fight…. Prohibition breads violence, just as it did with alcohol…. But who cares right? So when people go for something that is frankly not worth the time or money to treat themselves for pain or anxiety, don’t be surprised…
A legal, natural and addictive substance called kratom is becoming increasingly popular in South Florida, according to a news report. Kratom comes from the leaf of a tree grown in Southeast Asia, WPTV reports.
Users report a relatively mild high from kratom abuse. however, the drug is addictive and prolonged use can lead to kratom addiction.Kratom is harmful if it is taken in high dose otherwise it has various medicinal values
Nice. Kratom addiction is a very real possibility for those who abuse it.Increased tolerance tolerance, Daily use, Long term constipation are the signs of kratom addiction.
Thai Kratom is believed to be the most optimum quality of Kratom leaves found in the entire globe. They are pure and simply authentic in their taste and effect. This bushy plant or more precisely a tree, grows to a height of 15 to about 20 feet in the sky and also include dark green colored leaves which grow upto 7 inches in length and 4 inches in width.