Kratom Addiction: Definition, Signs, Effects, and Treatment

The signs of kratom addiction include increasing the dosage to achieve the desired effects, neglecting responsibilities, and an inability to control kratom use despite negative consequences. Users begin to isolate themselves and prioritize obtaining and consuming kratom over personal or professional commitments. Unfortunately, kratom can produce withdrawal symptoms very similar to that of traditional opioids. Kratom addiction also occurs in non-opiate users that abuse it under the misconception that because it is legal, it is safe.

kratom abuse symptoms: signs and dangers to watch for

Treatment Centers in New Jersey

  • Kratom’s anti-nociceptive effects in the cold pressor test are described in Factor 2 and its potential for physiological dependence and withdrawal are discussed in Factor 7 (Vicknasingam et al., 2020).
  • This includes the old and new Drug Abuse Warning Network, Monitoring the Future, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, RADARS®, or the Treatment Evaluation Data Set.
  • We do recommend accelerated research to address the many questions raised in this review, including support of the potential development of new medicines with potential better safety and/or efficacy profiles for a variety of diseases.
  • With frequent use, this tolerance can quickly turn into dependency, making it hard to stop without experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

Usage has recently spread across the US with the claim that this drug is both legal and undetectable. Kratom is an herbal extract that comes from the leaves of an evergreen tree called Mitragyna speciosa. Kratom users can chew the tree’s leaves, swallow or brew dry kratom, or add the extract to a liquid.

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. Since kratom has stimulant properties, people who are hallucinating are at risk of harming themselves or others. They may feel compelled to act on the things they see or hear, and their choices could haunt them. Klag agreed that physicians should stay informed about the risks of kratom and emphasized open and transparent conversations with their patients.

Factor 3: the state of current scientific knowledge regarding the drug or other substance

People who buy a product called kratom could be ingesting almost anything — from harmless herbs to deadly fentanyl. Klag said kratom use can even complicate the prescribing of medications for other substance use disorders. Although kratom is unregulated and legal, the substance produces similar effects to controlled substances. After oral administration of traditional or other natural kratom formulations to rats, greater systemic exposure was observed than that of an equivalent oral MG dose alone; no adverse events were reported (Avery et al., 2019). Combinations of kratom alkaloids may inhibit cell proliferation and migration of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells suggesting alkaloid or new analogs as potential cancer treatments (Domnic et al., 2021b).

Lifestyle Quizzes

Kratom’s main effects are due to the consumption of MG, but other minor alkaloids and metabolites, including 7-OH-MG, may also contribute to effects reported by consumers. Since 2018, many scientific advances improved our understanding of how these alkaloids and metabolites interact. Some alkaloids that contribute little to the effects of kratom may ultimately contribute to safer and more effective new medicines for a variety of disorders, as well as for general health and well-being. This includes furthering recent findings suggesting that mitragynines may be functioning as biased opioid receptor agonists, thus helping to explain their apparent safety profile that sets them apart for prototypic morphine-like opioids of abuse. There have been no studies of the discriminative stimulus effects of kratom as an herbal product.

Insurance

CPP was achieved in mice with a high dose methanolic extract of kratom leaves (Vijeepallam et al., 2019). In a fourth study (see also Factor 2), lyophilized (freeze-dried) kratom tea (LKT), a potential treatment for pain and opioid dependence, did not induce CPP in mice (Wilson et al., 2020). To be concise, factors 4, 5, and 6 are considered a single group of public health related factors.2 (Henningfield et al., 2018a; Johnson et al., 2018). Factor 8 is unchanged as neither kratom nor its constituents are scheduled. Sabetghadam et al. (2013) administered MG (1, kratom abuse symptoms: signs and dangers to watch for 10, 100 mg/kg, p.o.) to rats for 28 days.

The constant cycle of use, withdrawal, and craving can consume an individual’s life, leaving little room for personal growth or meaningful relationships. The symptoms of kratom addiction extend beyond behavioral changes, encompassing a range of psychological and physical manifestations. Understanding these symptoms is crucial for early intervention and effective treatment.

kratom abuse symptoms: signs and dangers to watch for

Kratom consumption leads to addiction when taken in high doses over an extended period. Repeated use at this level results in dependence due to the opioid-like effects that kratom produces, leading to cravings and withdrawal symptoms similar to opioid addiction. However, no published studies specify the amount of kratom required to cause an overdose, making it difficult to determine a safe consumption level according to research titled “DEA Announces Intent to Schedule Kratom” by The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

  • Withdrawal symptoms include severe nausea, insomnia, anxiety, and depression.
  • In contrast, a credible estimate based on market data suggested prevalence of 3–5 million in 2014–2015 (Botanical Education Allia, 2016).
  • Throughout their program, clients work with Kaylyn directly one-on-one in removing toxic people from their lives and rebuilding trust with loved ones.
  • There has been no documented threat to public health that would appear to warrant emergency scheduling of the products and placement in Schedule I of the CSA carries risks of creating serious public health problems.
  • At low doses (1-5 grams), kratom acts as a stimulant, making users feel more alert, energetic, and sociable, similar to caffeine.

Are you covered for treatment?

Now, health officials are cracking down on the widespread use of the substance. Rates of kratom use were highest among young adults ages 18 to 25, followed by adults 26 or older, and adolescents ages 12 to 17, SAMHSA reports. JH was the primary scientist/investigator, and lead the identification of articles, writing, and analysis.

She has strong communication skills, compassion for others, and a drive to provide the best services we can to each client and their family throughout their experience with Elevate. For the past 9 years, she additionally has been overseeing the detox area, health services, and office of family support. She has implemented a lot of new protocols for the operations of these areas to ensure the clients are receiving the highest quality of care that we are able to provide.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *