Some types of drug addiction make the news more often than others. While most people are familiar with narcotics like cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, they may not know about kratom addiction. This drug has increased in popularity, causing a real need for help overcoming addiction to it. Buckhead Behavioral Health in Atlanta offers a rehab for Kratom in a structured and safe outpatient setting. If you experience an addiction to kratom, we can help you put this difficult health challenge behind you.
What Is Kratom?
Kratom comes from Southeast Asia and is made from the leaves of a tropical tree local to that area called mitragyna speciosa. People began using it because ingestion caused a couple of different reactions. First, many used it as a medical treatment to help alleviate symptoms like coughing, pain, diarrhea, and feeling tired.
It can also cause effects similar to that which occur when a person uses stimulant drugs. These effects feel like those that come from using psychotropic drugs, making them a go-to choice for some people to use as a recreational drug. In small amounts, it can increase a person’s energy and help to stay more focused. It can also have the effect of making it easier for a person to feel comfortable being social. When taken in larger amounts, some people experience euphoria or sedation.
Kratom is not yet illegal in the United States, but that may change. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) considers kratom a drug of concern and warns people not to use it. Even small doses have the potential to harm someone. Developing kratom addiction also poses a risk for many.
Street names for kratom include ketum, thang, kakuam, and biak.
Signs and Symptoms of Kratom Addiction
When kratom addiction occurs in a person, signs can occur. Signs to look out for include:
- Increased energy
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Lack of appetite
- Frequent urination
- Sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Itchy skin
- Hallucinations
- Psychosis
- Seizures
- Developing a tolerance to the drug and increasing the amount taken
In addition, a person who develops a kratom addiction usually experiences withdrawal symptoms when they do not use the drug and may often need detox, before attending an outpatient rehab for kratom.
Is Kratom Dangerous?
Anytime the use of a drug carries the risk of developing a substance use disorder, it is by definition dangerous. Because kratom addiction does happen to some people, they need to seek help before it becomes too late, and there can be harmful side effects of kratom abuse.
Additional dangers exist besides the risk of addiction. Because kratom is not regulated by any agency, there is no way to ascertain what ingredients are in any particular batch. Kratom can be bought in person via dealers or purchased online. In both cases, dangerous additives may be mixed into kratom that can cause a person to become sick or can even be deadly. People can ingest kratom by smoking it, mixing it into a drink, taking a pill, and other methods. In each case, they may introduce unknown ingredients into their systems, including illegal drugs.
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Kratom Withdrawal Symptoms and Timeline
While not everyone who uses kratom will develop an addiction, those who do will experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop using it. Common withdrawal symptoms include:
- Weight loss
- Sweating
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Flu-like symptoms
- Insomnia
- Body and muscular aches
- Moodiness
- Difficulty sleeping
- Cravings to use the drug
While the timeline for withdrawal from kratom varies per individual, the average timeline is as follows:
Day 1: Symptoms begin around 12 hours after the last dosage. Sweating and anxiety are the most common ones to occur. The next withdrawal symptoms to occur may involve fever, nausea, joint and muscular pain, and visual disturbances. Many experience flu-like symptoms during this period.
Day 2-3: The symptoms already occurring likely will intensify. Additional ones that may begin include shaking, difficulty with coordination, insomnia, loss of appetite, and dehydration. As well, anxiety may intensify, and some experience depression, too.
Day 4-7: During this time, most of the withdrawal symptoms will begin to subside. Tremors may still occur for a few days. Physical symptoms usually disappear faster than psychological ones.
What To Expect At Our Rehab For Kratom
Kratom addiction does not have a specific treatment program designed just for this condition. However, effective rehab for kratom can be found in seeking general care for substance use disorders. Someone who experiences withdrawal symptoms when not using kratom can benefit from going to a detox program. This provides medical and psychological support to help minimize the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms.
After detox, a choice can be made between going to a residential program or outpatient care. The main difference lies in the fact that a person who transitions to residential care will need to move into a facility for an extended period of time. In addition, many people find that they can overcome their addiction to kratom by using outpatient drug rehab. Outpatient programming allows individuals to live from home while attending treatment.
Other Services Provided at our Rehab for Kratom
Buckhead Behavioral Health provides other services to help people experience a well-rounded plan for getting sober. These services include:
- Medication Assisted Treatment
- Vivitrol
- Trauma Therapy
- Holistic Rehab
- Family Therapy
- Brainspotting Therapy
- Neurofeedback Therapy
Our staff can help each person determine which services will best suit their individual needs.
Find Kratom Rehab in Atlanta Today
Do you struggle with abusing kratom and don’t know how to find effective help? Buckhead Behavioral Health in Atlanta provides rehab for kratom that allows people to get the help they need. Our outpatient therapies are designed to help you get and stay sober. This includes addressing any accompanying mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, or trauma-based illnesses.
We are happy to answer any questions you have about kratom addiction and how we can help you or someone you love. Visit our admissions page now for more info.
More on Kratom Addiction
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How Addictive Is Kratom?
