Is Kratom Addictive? A California Guide

Is kratom addictive? Is it dangerous? Is it even legal in California?

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Understanding Kratom

Kratom is the common name of Mitragyna speciosa, which is a type of evergreen tree that is native to Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and several other nations in Southeast Asia. 

The term kratom also refers to products made from the plant’s leaves, which may produce both stimulant- and opioid-like effect. 

In areas where the kratom tree naturally grows, people have used its leaves for centuries. Laborers have traditionally chewed the leaves to stave off fatigue, while traditional medical practitioners have use the leaves to treat a range of concerns, including cough, muscle and bone pain, and diarrhea. 

Traditionally, people traditionally used kratom by chewing the leaves or brewing them into a tea. Modern-day kratom users in the U.S., where products containing the substance are sold as herbal supplements, also ingest the drug in capsule and powder form.

Is Kratom Legal in California?

In addition to asking, is kratom addictive, many people also wonder if it is even legal. 

Possessing and using the drug is not currently banned at the federal level, though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that it is unsafe and “is not lawfully marketed in the U.S. as a drug product, a dietary supplement, or a food additive in conventional food.”

California, which is home to Bright Future Recovery, recently made it illegal to manufacture or sell products that contain kratom. In a March 3 press release, California Gov. Gavin Newsom reported that businesses in the state were “95% compliant” with the law. 

However, while it’s no longer legal to make or sell products with kratom in California, the state has not yet outlawed the possession and use of the substance. 

How Does Kratom Affect You?

Kratom can have either a stimulating or sedating impact, which appears to depend primarily on how you use. Other factors that can influence how you feel after taking kratom include:

• How you ingested it
• If you have a history of kratom use
• If you have certain medical or mental health conditions
• If you have also been using other substances

Common effects

When you take a relatively small amount of kratom, potential effects include:

• Energy boost
• Increased alertness
• Improved appetite
• Elevated heart rate
• Talkativeness

Larger doses of kratom can produce effects such as:

• Improved mood
• Easing of muscle tension
• Diminished pain
• Relaxation
• Drowsiness

Scientists have not fully uncovered the sources of kratom’s effects, but research suggests that two naturally occurring alkaloids – mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine – play a key role.

Dangers

Using kratom even once can cause you to experience a range of unpleasant side effects. If you use it in especially large amounts or for an extended period, you may be in danger of more serious repercussions.

Common adverse effects of kratom use include:

• Disorientation
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Dry mouth
• Heart palpitations
• Fever and chills
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea and constipation

A May 2022 review in the journal Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment reported that the more serious potential effects of kratom use include:

• Tachycardia (dangerously high heart rate)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Cardiac arrest
• Liver and kidney damage
• Aphasia (impaired ability to communicate) 
• Seizure
• Coma

Kratom has also been involved in hundreds of overdose deaths, typically in combination with other drugs.

Is Kratom Addictive?

Is kratom addictive? It doesn’t pose the same risk of addiction as substances such as alcohol, opioids, and cocaine do. But people can and do become dependent on it.

According to the May 2022 review cited in the previous section, 2.4% of sampled adults who had used kratom in the past 12 months met the criteria for a diagnosis of kratom use disorder, which is the clinical term for kratom addiction.

Am I addicted to kratom?

If you’re concerned that your kratom use may have crossed the line from a choice to a compulsion, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you spend a lot of time thinking about and using kratom?
• Do you experience powerful urges or cravings to use kratom?
• Do you use kratom in circumstances that are clearly hazardous, such as by combining it with alcohol or other drugs?
• Have you failed to fulfill responsibilities at work, in school, or at home due to your kratom use?
• Has your kratom use caused you to reduce or end your participation in activities that you used to enjoy?
• Have you continued to use kratom even after having physical, psychological, or personal problems that were caused or worsened by your prior use?
• Do you need to use larger amounts of kratom to experience the effects that you used to be able to achieve via smaller doses?
• Do you experience uncomfortable symptoms when you try to stop using kratom, or when you’re prevented from using it?
• Have you lied to or otherwise deceived loved ones about the amount and frequency of your kratom use?
• Has anyone ever suggested to you that you might have a problem with kratom? 

If you can answer yes to any of the questions above, it might be time to talk to your doctor about your kratom use or schedule an assessment at a reputable addiction treatment provider in your area.

How can I tell if a someone else is addicted to kratom?

If you suspect that someone you care about has become addicted to kratom or another substance, keep an eye out for warning signs such as:

• Sudden shifts in mood and energy
• Acting in an uncharacteristically erratic or reckless manner
• Frequently missing school or work
• Drop in performance in school or at work
• Neglecting to pay bills, keep appointments, or fulfill other responsibilities
• Withdrawing from family and friends
• Being secretive or outright lying about where they’ve been and what they’ve been doing
• Becoming irritated or agitated when they can’t acquire or use kratom

None of these red flags are definitive proof that a person has become addicted to kratom. But they can all be signs of a mental or behavioral health concern. Talk to your loved one about your concerns and encourage them to make an appointment with a doctor or an addiction treatment provider.

Does Kratom Cause Withdrawal Symptoms?

If kratom is addictive, then does that mean it can cause withdrawal symptoms?

As with addiction, kratom doesn’t pose the same risk of withdrawal that drugs like alcohol and opioids do. But once a person has become dependent on it, trying to stop using kratom can trigger symptoms such as:

• Heavy sweating
• Abdominal cramping
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Hot flashes and chills
• Tremors
• Anxiety and agitation
• Depression

Find Help for Kratom Addiction in Northern California

Bright Future Recovery offers comprehensive, personalized care for addictions and co-occurring mental health concerns.

Treatment options at our luxury rehab in Northern California include a detox program, residential care, a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and a virtual (online) outpatient program. 

To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.