Kratom, otherwise known as the Mitragyna Speciosa is a plant in the coffee family that originates from southeast Asia. Kratom has historically been used to treat a multitude of ailments – such as pain relief and mental health problems like anxiety.
In recent times, kratom has shown promise in the treatment of opiate addictions.Kratom is used as herbal medicine, and works to help squash withdrawal symptoms because it binds to opioid receptors in the brain. Kratom is hot commodity in Florida, with smoke shops, gas stations, and kava bars alike selling it in different forms for consumption. Many people drink kratom recreationally as a means to feel good and either wake up or wind down.
Kratom is consumed by a wide variety of people for a wide variety of purposes, and with anything, moderation is recommended. Some establishments make the mistake of pushing the substance without properly educating people about its effects. The highest daily recommended dose of kratom is 15mg, though it is recommended that you start with a lower dose your first time trying it. What I would suggest for any first time kratom drinker is to consume it at a kava bar, because kava tenders are employed to help share crucial information about the beverages being sold. Additionally, kava bars typically sell kratom in the form of a crushed leaf tea, which is the most traditional way to consume kratom, dating back hundreds of years.
Drinking kratom as a “slush” (kratom powder suspended in another fluid) or as capsules makes it harder to identify how much kratom you are consuming, which inherently makes it difficult to ensure that you are consuming a healthy dose. Additionally, it is harder for the body to digest a powder, especially one with a high concentration of kratom.
Other medicines, such as Suboxone are frequently prescribed for substance use disorders, though this can be very controversial, because suboxone is still a highly addictive drug with its own drawbacks. Suboxone is, itself, an opioid, containing two main chemicals: Buprenorphine and Naloxone. People have been known to use Suboxone to prolong and continue their heroine abuse, as opposed to its intended purpose, which is to help with withdrawal.
Kratom is much gentler on the body, because its intended purpose is not to treat addictions. Kratoms medicinal purposes span a wide variety of ailments, but more than anything it is a social beverage meant to be shared between friends. Kratom was not created in a lab, it grows naturally and has very low risk factors. When someone withdrawals from high doses of suboxone, they are likely to experience dangerous withdrawal symptoms, comparable in nature to other opioid drugs. Kratom does not pose the same threat – and any possible physical dependency is very rare and very minimal, usually consisting of a headache and runny nose – though this would only be cause for concern if you are consuming a quantity of kratom that far exceeds the daily recommended amount. Kratom allows for people to recover in a much safer way than pharmaceutical alternatives, and has proven itself to be life saving.