While a lot of drugs make the news when it comes to addiction, sometimes the ones that don’t receive as much attention can do just as much damage. Kratom is one of those substances. How addictive is kratom? The short answer is it can become quite addictive. This drug has similar risks to many others when it comes to abusing it. That makes it important to seek substance use disorder treatment in order to walk away from using it.
What Is Kratom?
The initial use of kratom originated when people in Southeast Asia used leaves from a tropical tree found in the area called mitragyna speciosa. The leaves contain chemicals that cause mind-altering effects, similar to psychotropic drugs. Additionally, locals use the leaves as a medical treatment for symptoms like coughing, fatigue, and pain.
Kratom made its way to the U.S. and some people began abusing it. Although kratom has not yet been outlawed, that may change as studies on this drug continue. For now, people can purchase it in person and even on the internet. Like any other unregulated narcotic, it can contain dangerous additives unknown to the user that can result in sickness, hospitalization, and even death.
Symptoms of Kratom Addiction
Like any other narcotic, when someone becomes addicted to kratom, certain symptoms begin to happen. Someone using kratom as well as those around them should be aware of signs that abuse or addiction has taken hold.
Symptoms of kratom addiction include increased energy, lack of sleep, and decreased appetite. They can also include an easier time socializing with others and an increased libido. Other symptoms of kratom addiction can include lethargy, sleeping a lot, and a lack of motivation.
Kratom addiction can be physical and psychological in nature and these symptoms can include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea and constipation
- Sweating
- Frequent urination
- Itchy skin
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
- Psychosis
- Withdrawal symptoms when not using the drug or reducing the amount taken
How Addictive Is Kratom?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns Americans not to consume kratom in any form. When considering how addictive is kratom, the FDA warns that it contains properties that provide a real risk for the user becoming addicted to it. Kratom shares similar properties to opioids in terms of how it affects the brain. This contributes to the concern that people who use it will end up abusing it or becoming addicted.
The FDA specifies that kratom has no known uses for which they can issue an approval. While further research continues to be done, best practices include warning people to avoid any use of this potentially addictive drug. In fact, the more a person ingests kratom, the more likely they are to experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop using it. Like opioids and other dangerous substances, the more a person uses kratom, the more likely they are to develop a tolerance for it. Then, they need to increase their dosage to get the same desired effects.
The Effects of Using Kratom
Answering the question “How addictive is kratom?” depends on several factors. One includes which feeling the user seeks when they take kratom.
Some people abuse kratom in order to achieve the stimulant effects it provides. Kratom can cause a person to feel increased energy and the ability to get by with less sleep. A person with a packed schedule, like college students and busy employees, sometimes uses the drug in order to get more done. Other stimulant drugs include meth, cocaine, and prescription drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall.
The other reason someone may abuse kratom involves wanting to achieve an opioid effect. This type of effect includes feeling pleasure, sedation, and relaxation. Other opioid drugs include heroin, fentanyl, and prescription drugs such as Oxycontin and other pain relievers.
How Is Kratom Addiction Treated?
If you find yourself asking “How addictive is kratom?”, a problem likely has taken hold already. If not, one could be on the horizon, making it important to go ahead and begin treatment for kratom abuse or addiction.
Treatment begins with going to detox in Atlanta. During detoxification, a person spends a number of days allowing the toxins accumulated in their bodies to exit. Withdrawal symptoms often occur during detox, making it imperative never to try to detox alone. A treatment center can provide valuable medications and psychological support to ease and even bypass some withdrawal symptoms.
Some people then transition into residential rehab, which requires them to live in a facility while getting help. Other treatment options include outpatient care such as intensive outpatient programs (IOP) and partial hospitalization programs (PHP). Some facilities even offer virtual IOP for substance abuse, allowing a person to receive valuable addiction treatment in their own homes over their smart devices.
Treatment for substance use disorders includes multiple choices for therapy that addresses addiction. This includes individual and group therapy. Some therapies focus on including the family, dealing with trauma, and more. Holistic therapy, such as yoga, art therapy, and meditation prove popular ways to successfully avoid relapsing.
Treatment for Kratom Addiction in Atlanta
Have you gotten mixed up in the world of using kratom and now find yourself addicted? Buckhead Behavioral Health in Atlanta can help you overcome your drug addiction and become healthy again. Our kratom rehab programs include expert detox and outpatient plans designed to teach you how to end your substance use disorder once and for all. Visit our admissions page today and let us lead the way to a life of sobriety.
