{"id":3587,"date":"2023-07-27T10:31:08","date_gmt":"2023-07-27T10:31:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/?page_id=3587"},"modified":"2025-02-07T12:31:26","modified_gmt":"2025-02-07T12:31:26","slug":"kratom","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/drugs\/kratom\/","title":{"rendered":"Kratom: Uses, How To Identify & Addictive Qualities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Kratom is an unusual drug that is not well understood. Knowing why kratom use is risky and how it affects people can deter its use.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kratom gets a lot of attention in the media as it gains popularity and notoriety among Americans. Unfortunately, a lot of misinformation has been mixed in with the facts and it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction when it comes to this unusual drug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While kratom appears to be a potential opioid alternative, there are significant toxicities associated with the drug and a number of deaths have been linked to its use. At this point, there is very little quality, researched evidence supporting its use in humans. Thus, there is a lot of controversy regarding its use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kratom, which is currently in legal limbo in the United States, is marketed as an herbal remedy for pain and for assisting people with detoxing from opioid use. It is legal in most states in the country and can be purchased online, as well as in head shops, gas stations, and kava bars<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Kratom?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Kratom<\/a> is the common name for Mitragyna speciosa, which is a type of evergreen tree related to coffee. Kratom is native to Southeast Asia (specifically Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea), where its leaves have been used for over a century as a sort of opium substitute. The kratom drug is made by grinding up the tree leaves or brewing them in a tea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is kratom an opiate? No, kratom is not an opiate (i.e., a drug that grows naturally in the opium poppy), nor is it an opioid (a drug derived from an opiate). However, kratom is considered to be an opioid-like drug in that it activates opioid receptors in the brain. It also acts as a stimulant, similar to cocaine<\/a>. As such, kratom is an unusual drug because it does not fit into any specific drug category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kratom in Florida<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Is kratom legal in Florida? Yes, at the moment. Due to increasing reports of kratom poisonings and deaths, the FDA arranged to have kratom imports seized beginning in 2014. In 2016, the DEA<\/a> made kratom a Schedule I controlled substance (unsafe, with no medical uses and a high potential for abuse). However, groups of kratom enthusiasts, backed by a group of U.S. senators, lobbied for stopping this measure and the DEA took the unusual step of withdrawing their intent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the present time, kratom is illegal in six states and D.C., but remains legal in Florida, although it is banned in Sarasota County. At the federal level, it remains in limbo while the public debate about the issue continues. The FDA is warning people<\/a> to not use kratom because there is no researched evidence to support any therapeutic uses, and there is a high potential for harm. The DEA placed kratom on its list of \u201cchemicals of concern,\u201d and remains intent on making kratom illegal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Does Kratom Do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Any information on what benefits or effects that kratom may have is based largely on anecdotal information. The drug has received little attention from the research community, with only a few published studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is kratom used for? In the absence of hard evidence of any kratom benefits, the drug is used without FDA approval for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n