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If you or someone you care about has been struggling with kratom dependence, then you already know that this conversation is a complicated one. Kratom has been showing up in smoke shops and gas stations across Austin and Houston, Texas, for years now, being marketed as a “natural herbal supplement”. For a time, it existed in a space where most people assumed that if it was on a shelf next to protein bars, it couldn’t be all that dangerous.
However, we know that just because Kratom is currently legal in Texas for adults 18+, legal and safe are not synonymous. This has been proven time and time again with other legal substances such as alcohol or cigarettes.
And since Kratom dependence is growing to be a significant public health concern, what we’ve learned from both research and from the people who’ve walked through our doors at Positive Recovery is that this substance is considerably more dangerous than the label might suggest.
Kratom: “Way worse than anything I’ve been through.”
What I have seen with what I would call the Kratom epidemic mirrors that of the early opioid epidemic. Specifically, people were surprised that they were addicted to pain pills because the doctor prescribed them, and they weren’t quite aware of the potential of physical dependence and withdrawal. Likewise, I am encountering a rather large percentage of Kratom users who are similarly caught off guard. The consistent message among this group is roughly this: “I had no idea, Doc. I was buying it over-the-counter, and oh my God, this is way worse than anything I’ve been through.”
The Effects of Kratom
Kratom comes from the dried leaves of a tree called Mitragyna speciosa, which grows throughout Southeast Asia. The two primary active compounds are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, and what makes kratom pharmacologically significant is that these compounds bind to opioid receptors in the brain.
At lower doses, kratom tends to produce stimulant-like effects. At higher doses, the experience shifts to something much closer to an opioid sedative. In fact, Kratom interacts with the same receptor system that responds to heroin, oxycodone, and morphine.
The FDA has not approved kratom for any medical use, and it has not undergone the clinical safety and efficacy protocols that other prescription medications do. Despite this, it has been widely marketed as a tool for managing chronic pain, easing anxiety, and even helping people through opioid withdrawal. Unfortunately, that marketing has led individuals to seek a short-term fix for a long-term problem, only for them to realize they are simply trading one dependence for another.
Wondering If Kratom Is Becoming a Problem for You or a Loved One? 5 Questions to Ask
One of the most consistent things we hear from people who come to us with kratom dependence is that they didn’t see it coming. Because kratom has been so widely framed as a supplement rather than a drug, many people don’t apply the same self-monitoring they might with alcohol or prescription medications. If you’re wondering if Kratom is becoming a problem for you or a loved one, here are 5 questions to ask:
- Has kratom become part of the morning routine in a way that feels less like a choice and more like a requirement for the day to start normally?
- Has the amount needed to produce the same effect increased over time, even at a lower dose?
- Has cutting back or stopping felt genuinely difficult, either physically or emotionally?
- Do periods without kratom bring on anxiety, irritability, body aches, or sleep problems?
- Has someone close to you expressed worry about how much or how often it’s being used?
While none of these are a clinical diagnosis, answering yes to any of them may be a sign that support is worth seeking. If you or a loved one is struggling with Kratom dependence, we want you to know that help is available.
Your Recovery is Worth Fighting For
Recovery from kratom dependence is achievable, and the people who have been through it consistently describe the experience on the other side as one of profound relief.
Getting there, however, requires professional support. Many people who try to stop on their own often find themselves returning to use not because they want to, but because the physical and psychological symptoms become too much to manage without guidance from a medical support system.
At Positive Recovery Centers, our approach often begins with medically supervised detox that keeps patients safe and as comfortable as possible, followed by treatment that addresses both the physical reality of dependence and the underlying factors that led someone to kratom in the first place, whether that was chronic pain, untreated anxiety, an attempt to manage opioid withdrawal, or something else entirely.
Our clinical philosophy is grounded in positive psychology, which means we aren’t just focused on helping people stop using something. We’re invested in helping people build a life they actually want to live, a life of meaning and purpose.
If Kratom Has Cost You More Than You Expected, We Can Help.
If kratom use has become something that feels out of control, or if you’re watching someone you love struggle with kratom dependence and don’t know what to do next, we want you to know that you don’t have to figure this out alone. We know how exhausting it is to try to stop and not be able to on your own. And we also know how much it affects families to watch their loved one get lost in something sold to them as “harmless”.
At Positive Recovery Centers, we’ve walked alongside people through exactly this, and we’re ready to walk alongside you, too, every step of the way. You can call us 24/7 at (877) 476-2743 to speak with our admissions team or visit our website at positiverecovery.com to find a Positive Recovery location nearest you. You no longer have to face kratom dependence alone. We are here for you!