Kratom: What You Need to Know About This 鈥淣atural鈥 Opioid
Kratom: What You Need to Know About This 鈥淣atural鈥 Opioid
Kratom is often marketed as a natural remedy鈥攂ut that doesn鈥檛 mean it鈥檚 safe. While some people use it for pain relief or to manage opioid withdrawal, medical experts at 麻豆学生精品版 warn that kratom can lead to addiction, overdose, and other serious health risks.
What Is Kratom?
Kratom is a tree native to Southeast Asia. Its leaves have been used for centuries for their mild stimulant effects, similar to caffeine. But kratom is unique: at higher doses, it acts like an opioid, affecting the same receptors as drugs like morphine or oxycodone.
鈥淚n South America, people chew coca leaves (used to make cocaine) for a stimulant effect,鈥 says Michael Moss, MD, the director of the . 鈥淪imilarly, with kratom鈥攚hile not nearly as potent as a stimulant鈥攊t is unusual that it also acts like an opioid when taken at a higher dose.鈥
How Is Kratom Used?
In the United States, Kratom is often consumed as:
- Capsules filled with powdered leaves
- Tea or juice
- Loose powder mixed into drinks
Most users aren鈥檛 seeking a caffeine-like boost鈥攖hey鈥檙e looking for the opioid-like effects to manage pain or avoid prescription opioids.
As access to prescription opioids declined during the opioid epidemic, people turned to kratom as a legal, 鈥渘atural鈥 alternative. It鈥檚 easy to find in many states such as Utah鈥攕old in vape shops, gas stations, and online.
鈥淵ou drive down the street and see a vape shop鈥攜ou鈥檒l probably see a sign in the window that says 鈥楰ratom sold here鈥 in fluorescent letters,鈥 says Moss, an associate professor of at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah.
Is Kratom Safe?
In the U.S., kratom is legal in nearly all states and not federally regulated. While six states have banned the plant, four states (including Utah) have created regulations under the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA).
Kratom is not FDA-approved and cannot be prescribed by doctors. That means:
- There鈥檚 no standard dose
- Products may be contaminated
- Its safety hasn鈥檛 been thoroughly studied
鈥淛ust because it鈥檚 natural doesn鈥檛 mean it鈥檚 safe,鈥 Moss says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 still an opioid and can cause tolerance, dependence, and addiction.鈥
Some known health risks associated with kratom include:
- Addiction and withdrawal
- Liver damage
- Anxiety, hallucinations, or psychosis
- Contamination-related illness (e.g., salmonella outbreaks)
Some users experience delirium or severe anxiety after taking too much. Others may overdose or attempt suicide using kratom.
What鈥檚 New? A More Potent Form of Kratom
A new, purified compound from kratom called 7-hydroxymitragynine (also known as 7 hydroxy or 7-OH) is now being sold in pill form. It鈥檚 more potent than morphine and has led to overdoses requiring Narcan.
鈥淭he compound itself, even though it鈥檚 present in only 1% of the plant or less, is really potent,鈥 Moss warns. 鈥淚nstead of a mild opioid effect, people are developing significant tolerance and even overdosing.鈥
The Utah Poison Control Center has seen a rise in kratom-related calls. Most callers need help with:
- Managing side effects, such as feeling very anxious and delirious
- Navigating overdose situations
- Suicide attempts
Doctors and nurses also call the Utah Poison Control Center for help to treat kratom withdrawal鈥攋ust like they would for oxycodone or heroin.
鈥淭his new 7 hydroxy is brand new and we鈥檙e still learning about it,鈥 Moss says. 鈥淚t definitely has the potential to be more dangerous because it鈥檚 more potent and unregulated.鈥
Getting Help
If you or someone you know is using kratom and experiencing problems, call 1-800-222-1222 for free, confidential help 24/7. If someone that used kratom is experiencing an overdose, call 911.
If you are dealing with chronic pain and are worried about addiction, talk to your doctor. They can help find a way to safely treat your pain with less addiction risk.
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