Nov 30, 2017 | By Tim Stoddart

The War On Kratom – And Is It A Relapse?

Addiction & Recovery News

In the midst of the worst drug epidemic in U.S history, multiple attempts have been made to combat the rising issue. Treatment centers are at an influx, the President has declared a public health emergency, and harm reduction strategies have been implemented (drug substitution, needle exchange programs, etc.) in the recent past to attempt to deter the crisis from gaining momentum.

There is one questionable drug that has been causing an uproar among advocates. This seemingly harmless substance is widely known at “Kratom,” and there is an entire community refusing to back down from it’s cause. I know plenty of people with long term-sobriety who use it and still consider themselves as sober. Though, other groups of addicts swear off it’s use and alleged remedies. So is taking this drug considered a relapse? That is the constant and controversial question I hear time and time again. Let’s dive in.

What Is Kratom?

Kratom is closely related to the make-up of a coffee plant and has long been used to relieve pain and ease opiate withdrawal in parts of Asia. Kratom is only illegal in six states, and promoted as a safe, undetectable, legal drug that can be used to come off harder drugs. Therefore, addicts can and have used this drug as either a loophole, or a substitute to curb addiction, while detoxing or not.

What’s The Controversy?

In August 2016, The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) announced that it would temporarily reclassify kratom as a “Schedule I” drug, which means they would consider it “highly addictive.” This brought about a strong reaction, including public demonstrations, petitions, and calls by Congress to overrule the decision. The DEA lists kratom as a “drug of concern” but not a controlled substance and has now passed the issue over to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FDA has cited 36 deaths in association with kratom. The autopsies which have been made available are missing critical information, and several of the autopsies have not been made public. Advocates of the substance have worked to provide education to the two agencies, along with lawmakers, to prove their case that kratom should in fact remain legal.

Helpful Or Harmful?

However, some addicts swear by the drug as a tool to aid in their recovery. Some users tout the drug as a miracle medicine that is a natural painkiller and a methadone alternative that can help cure other opiate addictions. In 2011, Susan Ash found herself addicted to a cocktail of pain pills after battling Lyme Disease. Following detox and treatment, Susan found kratom and has since used the drug daily. She founded the American Kratom Association in 2015, a consumer based non-profit which now has hundreds of dues-paying members. It also has around 2,500 active contributors who share their experiences with kratom in an online forum. The Association works to lobby against state bills that seek to ban the substance.

Others say Kratom must be banned because its promise as a therapy that relies on a less harmful opioid substitute is complicating the addiction recovery process.

Battling a heroin addiction, Dariya Pankova, grew addicted to the drug. Continual use of the substance awakened her cravings for a stronger high, and she relapsed on heroin. Pankova states, “It’s a mind-altering substance, so people like me who are addicts and alcoholics, they think just because it’s legal, it’s fine. It’s a huge epidemic down here, and it’s causing a lot of relapses.”

Another South Florida resident stated he had abused dozens of different drugs before discovering kratom three years ago. He enjoyed the mild high to the point that he found himself ordering bottle after bottle. When he tried to cut back, he couldn’t, and eventually suffered from such withdrawals that he had to go to rehab for kratom multiple times.

Fighting Back

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said that there is no “reliable evidence” to support the use of kratom as a treatment for opioid-use disorder, and that there are no other FDA-approved uses for kratom. Gottlieb stated that, “evidence shows that the herb has similar effects to narcotics like opioids, and carries similar risks of abuse, addiction and, in some cases, death.” He said that calls to U.S. poison control centers involving kratom increased tenfold between 2010 and 2015.

Dr. Jack Henningfield, vice president of research and abuse policy at pharmaceutical company, Pinney Associates issued an “Eight Factor Scientific Study” on kratom and determined that kratom’s potential for abuse, tolerance, and dependence is lower than that of many schedule IV and V drugs.

Advocates have been busy trying to convince lawmakers that banning kratom would deprive the public of a promising treatment that has already helped many people struggling not just with opioid addiction but with other ailments treated with heavier prescription drugs.

The drug could be a quick solution for those suffering with debilitating ailments. However on one hand, some who have lived in recovery do not consider kratom a relapse. On another, many claim and have experienced the drug leading them back to full-blown addiction. The controversial subject has had many scrutinizing the opposing side.

So the question comes down to this. Is taking kratom considered a relapse? It depends on your beliefs about the substance. I’m no doctor, and I’m definitely not your sponsor. My suggestion would be to follow the suggestions given to you.

One addict stated, “I live in recovery everyday. If I’m taking it, as far as I’m concerned, I’m not clean. I followed the suggestions given to me, and do the next right thing. I don’t need the drug in my life. For me, I couldn’t get anymore benefits out of this life I’m living by adding another substance to my body, and I’m doing just fine. In my own experience, anything that is mind-altering is considered a relapse.”

What are your thoughts?

 

6 responses to “The War On Kratom – And Is It A Relapse?

  • I believe that banning this chemical would be a bad move. I am a chronic pain sufferer and wish I could get off of my pain medication daily. I have been able to take kratom for a week and take none of my pain medication with very little to no withdrawal symptoms. I researched kratom prior to using it and it can be a substance that is abused and you will become chemically dependent to it if taken for a long period of time. It gives me the chance to get off of my pain medication with no suffering for small periods of time. During that time I am in horrible pain but it allows me to not need to increase my daily dose of pain medication to live comfortable. The body becomes used to pain medication after extended use requiring patients to use higher doses to control the same levels of pain. I am not willing to constantly up my perscription to be able to function. I am 35 and will likely have pain the rest of my life. If I am unable to accomplish the same dose of medication with relief I will get to a point that nothing will control my pain. People abuse food, alcohol, even sex. If I was in treatment I would consider kratom use a relapse. It is a mood and mind altering chemical. I think it is a great detox option when used correctly and is much safer than methadone and other alternatives. If used for detox your sobriety will start once your detox stops. Your 1st day with no kratom is your 1st day clean.

    • Rob DeGolier

      6 years ago

      You have some good points. The only part I would respectfully disagree with is the general statement of saying if in treatment you would call it a relapse. To me it would depend on the motive behind the use. If you are in pain and that was the motive I wouldn’t see it as a relapse at all, I would see it as use of a substance. Relapse would be falling back into addictive use in my opinion. If you are an opiate addict and using Kratom to come off I agree the first day clean would be the first day off Kratom because of the reason and way its being used. I think this is too detailed of a topic to simply call any use a “relapse.” Many people in recovery take prescription mood altering substance and legitimately need them

  • Tammy Pearson

    6 years ago

    Several years ago, the clinic I go to decided to not treat chronic pain anymore. I have MRI’s showing multiple torn tendons and DDD. Add arthritis and fibro to the combo. I was being treated with Fentanyl Patches 100mcg. every 48 hrs, 180 Percocet 10/325, monthly, along with 90 Soma monthly. After no longer being able to get my meds, I was in debilitating pain until learning about kratom. This herb helps me to function at least semi-normally by lessening my pain. There’s no “high” to it, nor was there a “high” on the prescription meds. When your body actually hurts, all these meds do is help somewhat. It’s the young, healthy druggies who’re able to lay their hands on so many opioid drugs, not the people who actually need them!!!! How screwed up is that???!!!!

    • Rob DeGolier

      6 years ago

      It’s very screwed up. Then on top of it the media demonizes things to such a degree that if you truly use something to combat an ailment you feel guilt over it. It’s ridiculous. I am glad you are finding some relief to your pain. Pain sucks. I just left my opinion of the whole thing in the post after this . I don’t know if people agree with me or not but I welcome feedabck and discussion

  • Rob DeGolier

    6 years ago

    On the topic on whether or not it’s a relapse, to me it’s about being honest why you use it. If you are in recovery and use a prescription medication it is not considered a relapse so to me if you are using it to treat an ailment such as pain as an alternative to using stronger prescription drugs it can actually be a sing that you take your recovery serious. Choosing to use a milder/organic substance rather than the stronger prescription opiates but here is the thing it’s important to have the input from others because left to our own devices we can justify anything. To me if you talk to people who experts on the substance and you are taking a specific dosage and it is truly for a medical ailment then no it absolutely is not a relapse. If you are just winging it and taking it at random times through the day without much forethought then it very well could be sure. I know somebody who was a recovering meth addict that was in a bad motorcycle crash with 7 years sobriety. He was prescribed opiates and despite not liking the idea of taking them did because of the pain. When he heard about Kratom he tried it and it worked better than the hydrocodone. he spoke to his doctor and an herbalogist and started taking a set amount 2-3 times per day and had great results. He was worried with how others viewed it and I assured him I for one did not see it as a relapse. In fact I saw it as a very great alternative to something with a higher addiction potential. If he was a recovering opiate addict the risk factor may be greater, but there is a big difference between medicinal use and recreational or addictive use

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