Kratom is Not an Opioid

The Food and Drug Administration continues to state that Kratom is dangerous, the organization does acknowledge the reasons for which people use kratom and the fact that kratom fills a need that is not sufficiently met by traditional medication. And the Department of Health and Human Services has withdrawn their recommendation to the DEA to schedule Kratom.

Kratom is Not an Opioid

One of the many arguments thrown against the use of kratom is that it is an opioid. Both the FDA and the Drug Enforcement Agency have compared the leaf powder created from kratom leaves to opioids like heroin. However, while it mimics certain features of opioids, it is not a classical opioid itself.

On August 31, 2016, the DEA published a notice of intent to place substances contained in kratom on schedule I. Schedule I, by their own definition refers to chemicals or substances classified as drugs that are not currently accepted as suitable for medical use and feature a high potential for substance abuse. Alongside heroin, other drugs that are currently on this list, include LSD, ecstasy and even marijuana. So, what is it that put a temporary end to this decision to make “kratom opioid” an illegal drug? The public—yes, people like you—challenged the DEA about its own claims. Petitions racked up signatures of upwards of 142,000 and many Americans submitted testimonials sharing the many ways in which kratom helped them to lead happier and healthier lives.

What is Kratom?

So, what is kratom, if not an opioid? Kratom is a tropical plant belonging to the coffee family that has been used traditionally in medicine for centuries, in Southeast Asia. It is still used in many rural areas as a natural remedy for a number of ills.

Scientists have isolated almost 25 alkaloids from kratom and have named M.speciosa with mitragynine and 7‐hydroxymitragyine as the active compounds. However, as scientists well know, many different types of substances are capable of producing similar effects. Just because one drug produces a similar effect to the other, does not mean the two are one and the same.

What Lies Ahead

Conclusive evidence for the benefits and safety of kratom use does require further research. However, even in the field of traditional medicine, every drug is different and affects people differently.

The opioid crisis in America has risen to new heights. Illicit drugs with the obvious potential to do real danger are entering and being manufactured in the country every day. The government has limited resources to tackle these issues, as has been evidenced in the continued opioid crisis. So, if the health of the American people is their true goal, then the FDA and DEA need to focus their attention on these real threats and help to bring the problem to a more manageable state. Focusing on substances like kratom is a waste of tax dollars, while the real opioid problem continues.

What does this mean for kratom in the long run? It’s hard to say, but we continue to monitor the many press releases and notices of intent issued by the FDA. In truth, cannabis-users faced this first backlash for years, before science put an end to the smear campaign. Now, its use has finally been decriminalized and legalized in states and cities across America. With more studies and a push from kratom users who can attest to its benefit, we believe that we, too, can push past the smear campaign.

Learn More About Kratom with Laughing Lions Herb

For more information on kratom, how we process it responsibly and safely, and how to purchase your own, please contact the Laughing Lion Herbs Team at 888-895-7286 or 719-309-6943. You can also email us directly at store@laughinglionherbs.com.