HOW SAFE IS KRATOM AND IS THERE ANY RISK OF ADDICTION?

Kratom has become somewhat better known in the Netherlands in recent years, but unfortunately we do not yet know exactly how safe this drug is. There are questions about the risk of addiction and potency. In this blog, we look at what is known about kratom and how to recognise a possible dependency or addiction.

How safe is kratom?

Note: This article contains information about health and addiction. Always consult a doctor if you have any doubts or questions about your health.

In America, it is estimated that some 2 million people aged 12 and over will be using kratom by 2022 (according to SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). This is probably still an underestimate of the actual number. It is young adults aged between 18 and 25 who use the drug the most, followed by people aged 26 and over, and then the group between 12 and 17 follows. In the Netherlands, the figures are probably lower, but no numbers are known.

What are the reasons people use kratom? It is touted as a drug that can boost your energy and it could help if you are trying to kick opioids, reducing withdrawal symptoms.

It is an extract from the leaves of a tree called Mitragyna speciosa, found in Southeast Asia. The leaves can be chewed or the extract can be added to a liquid to make tea, for example. Ready-made extracts are also available for sale.

At low doses, kratom acts as a stimulant. It makes you feel alert and gives you more energy. But at higher doses, an opposite effect occurs. Then it can be analgesic and it then has calming and sedative properties.

Many users report noticing and benefiting from these effects. And because kratom is a natural drug, derived from a plant, it is thought that it is therefore automatically safe. But not everything that comes from nature is safe. Anyway, the amount of the active ingredient in kratom can vary greatly from one product to another. As a result, you also don't know exactly how high your dose and what the effects will be. Besides, if you buy an extract or powder, the product is still processed and you don't know exactly what's in it.

Effects and side effects of kratom

Is kratom really that safe? That remains to be seen. Poison centres in America received more than 3,400 reports related to kratom use between 2014 and 2019. These unfortunately included deaths. Kratom can therefore have side effects, which can be mild but also serious:

• Dry mouth
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation
• Muscle pain
• High blood pressure
• Weight loss
• Damage to the liver

Kratom can also affect the nervous system and your mental well-being:

• Dizziness
• Hallucinations
• Drowsiness
• Depression
• Problems with breathing
• Delusions
• Confusion
• Epileptic seizures
• Tremours

Some of these side effects can also be caused by dangerous contaminants in the drug, such as heavy metals or salmonella. Kratom by itself is probably not often life-threatening, but it can become so when combined with other drugs or medication.

The addiction risk of kratom

It is not yet clear whether kratom is actually addictive. It is known that some of the substances in kratom, especially mitragynine, can affect the opioid and dopamine receptors in the brain. These receptors are likely to be involved in the development of addiction.

In a study reported by the Mayo Clinic in the 18 June 2024 article "Kratom: Unsafe and ineffective", in which kratom was used as a treatment to quit opioids to reduce withdrawal symptoms, participants took the drug for 6 months. However, they reported withdrawal symptoms similar to those of opioid use. Users may start craving kratom. They may then need treatment for that again, as with buprenorphine and buprenorphine-naloxone.

Other research also seems to suggest that the active ingredient mitragynine in kratom can be addictive. In 2016, research was conducted on rodents. The report titled Abuse potential and adverse cognitive effects of mitragynine (kratom) was published in Addiction Biology. The animals were administered kratom for 14 days. After 12 hours, they clearly experienced severe physical withdrawal symptoms and after 24 hours, an increase in anxiety was seen.

When you stop using kratom, you may also experience withdrawal symptoms, which can be mild but also severe, such as:

• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Nausea
• Mood swings
• Restlessness
• Stiff muscles
• Tantrums
• Intrusive thoughts
• Fears
• Hallucinations
• Depression
  
  

Addicted to kratom?

It is not always easy to see for yourself that you are addicted to a drug. Keep an eye on the following symptoms. Do you feel a desire to use more often? Do you also want to use at times that are not really appropriate for this? You may find that you often think or talk about kratom and hide your use from others. In fact, your life revolves around your kratom use. You may also be unable to function well without using the drug.

If you recognise some or even all of these points in yourself, chances are you are addicted. Don't hesitate and seek help as soon as possible. Take care of yourself. Your kratom use can undermine your health.

The conclusion

In fact, we do not yet know enough to say with certainty that kratom is safe. It does come with risks and there is a chance that it is addictive. Therefore, make sure you are aware of the risks. Realise that even though kratom is a natural product, that does not automatically mean it is safe. Stay cautious and keep an eye on your own well-being. Ask a doctor for advice if you have any doubts about your kratom use. If you are pregnant, do not use kratom either. The Mayo Clinic mentions that kratom is not safe for the unborn child and that the child may be born with withdrawal symptoms and need treatment.

Want to know more about kratom products? Then check out our range. Please note: sale does not imply safety or approval of use.

This article is intended as a source of information, it is not medical advice.