Kratom is an Opiate, According to the FDA
The debate about kratom has been going on for a few years now and it doesn’t look like we’re getting any closer to a resolution on whether or not kratom is a safe substitute for traditional painkillers like oxycodone or heroin. Kratom definitely has its fans, along with no shortage of those who believe the herbal supplement should be banned. The fact is, we don’t know a lot about it, at least not enough to make statements about its safety, but what we do know is that it acts on the body very similarly to opiates which is why so many people proclaim its healing benefits and how it could potentially be the answer to the opiate crisis.
But is it really?
The FDA has just announced that they believe kratom to be an opioid. Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration said that new research has come to light that proves kratom acts on the central nervous system the same way as opiates do, with just a few variations. Dr. Gottlieb said, “Taken in total, the scientific evidence we’ve evaluated about kratom provides a clear picture of the biologic effect of this substance.” The doctor also said that as more scientific evidence comes forward, the more it looks as though the compounds in the plant are types of opioids. Kratom can be purchased at gas stations, convenience stores, and head shops. It’s marketed as a natural, “plant-based” product, which carries the connotations that it’s safe for human consumption and doesn’t have a high likelihood of causing any major harm. People have long sought kratom as a way to handle and treat pain, as well as numb the horrific withdrawals from more traditional painkillers. The government also says how MAT treatment, which is approved by the FDA, is the best, most effective way to kick opiates. Basically, they believe opiate addicts should use Suboxone or Methadone instead.
The American Kratom Association is up in arms with the FDA’s declaration of kratom being an opioid, claiming their science is unfairly biased, saying “This is an unprecedented abuse of science to create a new computer program that is clearly garbage-in-garbage-out, avoiding the rules of the Controlled Substances Act and making unproven claims that have been proven to be untrue.”
What remains true is that kratom is a largely untested product whose safety and usability in treating addiction is currently unknown. I don’t believe kratom is the answer to opiate addiction but I also don’t think that Suboxone and Methadone are viable options either. The only way I have seen people actually kick opiates and get off them for good are those who have gone through a rigorous drug rehab program that got them off of everything and handled the root causes of their addiction. With kratom, it’s another “silver bullet” or “magic potion” that the public hopes will solve the opiate crisis, but it’s that type of addict mentality that got us into this mess in the first place.
