{"id":47802,"date":"2019-09-30T18:47:24","date_gmt":"2019-09-30T18:47:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/merryjane.com\/wtf-is-kratom-and-what-are-the-effects-of-this-drug\/"},"modified":"2019-09-30T18:47:24","modified_gmt":"2019-09-30T18:47:24","slug":"wtf-is-kratom-and-what-are-the-effects-of-this-drug","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/merryjane.com\/culture\/wtf-is-kratom-and-what-are-the-effects-of-this-drug\/","title":{"rendered":"WTF Is Kratom and What Are the Effects of This Drug?"},"content":{"rendered":"
A lot of head shops sell it. Random Indonesian Facebook accounts hustle it, too. It\u2019s called kratom, and it\u2019s being marketed as a treatment for opioid addiction<\/u><\/a> and chronic pain. <\/p>\n Kratom is a green powder that comes from the Mitragyna speciosa <\/em>tree, more commonly known as (you guessed it), kratom<\/em>. The tree naturally grows in the tropical climates of Southeast Asia, and its leaves are packed with compounds known as alkaloids, which can possess medicinal properties. The powder sold as kratom is made by drying out the leaves and crushing them.<\/p>\n Kratom\u2019s two primary components are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-HMG), though, like cannabis and psilocybin mushrooms, kratom contains dozens of other potentially beneficial compounds that could work in tandem to provide a therapeutic effect.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What\u2019s Kratom Taken For?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Kratom is typically consumed by people in the West as a treatment for opioid addiction. Kratom powder causes both opioid- and stimulant-like effects in its users. Some opioid addicts swear that kratom as the only thing that got them to stop popping prescription painkillers. Although, as you can imagine, folks looking for a quick recreational thrill may seek out kratom, as well.<\/p>\n How Is Kratom Taken?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Since kratom is a leaf in powder form, it\u2019s basically a tea. You can steep kratom powder in hot water to boil a tea, sprinkle it on food, or load it into capsules and swallow it whole. You can also smoke kratom much like you\u2019d smoke weed. <\/p>\n What Are the Risks of Taking Kratom?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Kratom\u2019s biggest risk, as far as we know, is acute liver failure. Some people who\u2019ve consumed kratom have experienced hepatic issues. The risk of liver damage skyrockets if the individual combines<\/u><\/a> it with other drugs like alcohol<\/u><\/a>. That liver issue alone was enough to make the DEA consider listing mitragynine and 7-HMG as Schedule I substances<\/u><\/a>, the same category reserved for \u201cdangerous\u201d and \u201caddictive\u201d drugs with \u201cno accepted medical use,\u201d like marijuana or heroin. The DEA and FDA have not made any final decisions on kratom\u2019s legality<\/u><\/a> in the US, though some states<\/u><\/a> such as Indiana, Vermont, and Wisconsin have banned it outright.<\/p>\n Other possible adverse effects from kratom include restlessness, insomnia, increased heart rate, and, ironically enough, respiratory depression (decreased rate of breathing), one of the leading causes of death due to opioid overdoses. Since previous research on kratom has been subpar, to say the least, not much is known about its adverse (or beneficial) effects.<\/p>\n