Kratom addiction is a lesser-known drug, often buried by other well-known drugs. Recently, however, Kratom addiction has become a bigger discussion in the United States. This addictive substance continues to sneak under the radar despite its exponential rise in use and abuse in recent years. It’s important to know the signs of kratom addiction when deciding whether or not to use the compound, so the risks aren’t discovered when it’s already too late.
What is Kratom?
Kratom is a drug made with the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa plant native to southeast Asia. Although it is utilized as a dietary supplement, it is a very addictive compound with unique effects for different dose levels. It’s classified as a natural supplement, but the FDA has deemed it an unsafe food additive with potential for addiction.
The natural state of kratom is as a green, leafy plant. It can be identified as a green powder, but some color variance is possible. It can be sold as a powder, pill, extract, whole leaves that can be smoked or chewed, or dried leaves that can be brewed into tea.
Signs of Kratom Addiction
Kratom addiction doesn’t always look like addiction to other substances. But addiction to kratom is possible, and the signs can be observed with some training.
- Excessive sweating: This is a classic withdrawal symptom for kratom use, and may resemble sweating that takes place as a result of heroin addiction.
- Mood swings: Regular kratom users may experience irritability and shifting of emotions, especially during withdrawal. Depression, agitation, and irritability are some of the most common symptoms.
- Weight loss: Chronic kratom use can result in less frequent urges of hunger, which can lead to dramatic weight loss.
- Gastrointestinal problems: Similar to opioid addiction, repeated kratom use can result in vomiting nausea, and constipation. Diarrhea may take place during periods of withdrawal, as well as abdominal cramps.
- Vision Problems: Reddening of the sclera can occur with regular kratom use, producing a “bloodshot” appearance. This may be accompanied by “spider cracks” that form in the sclera when red blood vessels become more pronounced. Kratom use can also be associated with watery eyes and blurry vision in addition to dizziness.
- Dilated Pupils or Irregular Pupil Size: Kratom can cause pinpoint pupils due to its effects on the central nervous system.
- Slurred Speech: Garbled, slurred, or any stammering speech inconsistencies are a very telling behavioral cue. In many cases, speech may be imperceptible or indiscernible unbeknownst to the user. Depending on the severity of the person’s slurred speech, it may even be indicative of an impending overdose.
- Involuntary Tremors or Twitching: Sudden jerky movements, twitches, or other involuntary tremors are common withdrawal symptoms. Even facial twitches may take place. These can take place after taking a moderate dose of kratom. These can happen as a result of long-term kratom use and in withdrawal from kratom use.
- Body Aches and Pains: When withdrawals begin to set in, this can be one of the most torturous symptoms afflicted upon the user. This is also what can make recovering alone a difficult venture.
- Difficulty Sleeping: Kratom addiction can inflict severe insomnia-related withdrawal symptoms. People addicted to kratom can report insomnia or disturbed REM sleep, as well as consistent itching sensations. This can have far-reaching negative effects on health.
- Inability to Stop Using Kratom: If someone is using kratom despite the adverse effects it has on their life and health, this is a sign that their use has become unmanageable. Kratom users can have a higher rate than usual of polysubstance use, which can increase the risk of multiple drug intoxication and other serious health complications.
Withdrawal symptoms for kratom use typically only last up to three days. But they can still be very uncomfortable and potentially dangerous. Seek medical attention if symptoms are persistent or become more severe, and consider treatment for heroin addiction or medically assisted detox in Idaho if you or someone you know is looking to stop heavy kratom use.
Characteristics of Kratom
In areas where kratom sale and use are not regulated, it can slip into the retail market unbeknownst to authorities. It may be sold under different names in places like head shops or convenience stores. Kratom has properties similar to that of both a narcotic and a stimulant, which can make it appealing to people wanting a different kind of drug experience that’s also relatively inexpensive. Its reputation as a “natural” drug can lead some to believe that there are no risks to the body.
Lack of regulation, in conjunction with its uses in pain relief, makes kratom a dangerous candidate for addiction. Its addictive properties are so severe that it has been widely compared to opioids. Withdrawal from kratom can look very similar to withdrawal from opioids, and is considered extremely unpleasant to experience—often requiring professional support such as an opioid treatment program.
Kratom’s Similarities to Opioids
Different doses of kratom can have very different effects, even on the same person. Lower doses of kratom can act as a stimulant, while high doses can cause it to act as a sedative. It activates opioid receptors in the brain and acts on the central nervous system in a manner very similar to conventional opioids.
Medicinal Uses for Kratom
It’s not uncommon to see kratom mentioned as part of a treatment protocol for withdrawal symptoms for other substances. Kratom’s potential for easing physical pain and alleviating mental stress can help minimize withdrawal symptoms to a certain degree.
However, there can be long-term consequences even for this short-term use of kratom. It’s important to contact a medical professional before using kratom in any medicinal capacity. People with anxiety disorders may use kratom to self-medicate their symptoms, but this does not provide lasting relief and may worsen issues tied to dual diagnosis anxiety.
Why is Kratom Unsafe?
Kratom is no safer than other drugs. In some cases, it can be much more harmful. But what makes it unsafe?
- The primary reason kratom has been restricted in many places is its toxicity to vital human organs. This is due to the abnormally high alkaloid-rich content of kratom. Newborns of mothers who used kratom during pregnancy were shown as having displayed withdrawal symptoms after birth.
The specific method by which kratom is extracted makes the potency of each extraction drastically variable. There are inconsistent standards for the processing of kratom. Unlike most places with legalized cannabis, processors where kratom is legal are not always compelled to maintain a universal standard of quality at the state or regional level.
Compounds mixed with kratom can be diverse and not immediately obvious. This means the consumer doesn’t know what a certain sample of kratom is combined or cut with, and every batch of kratom may be different even if the supplier is the same. This magnifies the likelihood of encountering negative, adverse, or allergic reactions on a dose-by-dose basis. Reports of salmonella outbreaks tied to kratom-related products highlight the risks of using a substance with no universal standards.
One of the most dangerous unknowns of Kratom is the fact that you can indulge enough to overdose. Most are unaware of this, thinking that indulging in it is similar to marijuana use. Not only can you overdose. Each batch’s variable potency factors open the opportunity to overdose when misused. Furthermore, overdosing on this drug poses an even greater danger due to its sedative effects in larger doses. Hence, many overdose cases are reported to induce a comatose state, leaving the user unaware of their overdose status.
Kratom cultivation has a high risk for contamination due to the environment it grows. These environments consist of liquidized or rusted metals or other metallic contaminants. In addition, various forms of harmful bacteria are known to grow around these trees. Consequently, Kratom leaves often absorb these varieties of metals, bacteria, and polluted soil surrounding them. These contaminants are difficult, and in most cases impossible to separate during Kratom extraction, which can lead to inevitable bodily harm when consumed.
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Clinical Director
Kendall Maloof is the clinical director at Eagle Creek Ranch Recovery. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist and has held multiple leadership roles before settling here at Eagle Creek Ranch Recovery. Kendall received her master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2016. Her career in mental and behavioral health began in 2014 when she took up internships in both the nonprofit and for profit sectors. She interned at multiple reputable companies, such as The Living Success Center and 449 Recovery in California.
In 2019, Kendall became the clinical director of Sunsets Recovery for Woman, a dual diagnosis program in southern California. Kendall is a natural leader. She has an incredible ability to problem solve and stay calm in any situation. Kendall never fails to show up when she is needed, and her calm demeanor makes her team and clients feel at ease. Eagle Creek Ranch Recovery is proud to have Kendall as our clinical director.
