Tell the CDC How Kratom Has Worked in Your Life

If you buy kratom to improve your quality of life, tell the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The American Kratom Association (AKA) has said many times that citizens should advocate for kratom to protect this plant’s legal status here in the United States. While anecdotal stories can’t fill the need for more scientific research about kratom, it’s important to share stories about the impact kratom products can have on people’s lives. Many kratom advocates throughout the nation shared their stories earlier this year when the CDC requested comments on the management of acute and chronic pain.

What is the CDC?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a national public health institute and the United States Federal Agency. It’s headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and is under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The purpose of the CDC is to protect public health and safety both in the United States and internationally through the control of disease, injury, and disability.

This organization helps focus the nation’s attention on the effort to develop and apply ways to control and prevent disease. While the CDC largely focuses on infectious diseases, it also conducts research and provides information about non-infectious diseases. The institute has been known to release research about obesity, diabetes, and pain management.

In 2020, the CDC requested comments from individuals about pain and pain management. It opened a docket to get comments about the perspectives and experiences of citizens who have experience with pain and pain management. This request was looking for information about the benefits and harms of opioid use, among other things. Patients, health care providers, patients’ family members, and caregivers were all invited to share stories about managing acute and chronic pain.

One focus of this docket was to here from the types of individuals mentioned above (generally referred to as “stakeholders”) about pain or conditions that complicate pain management. For example, the CDC wanted information about opioid use disorder and overdose. After collecting comments, the institute reviewed them to inform and build upon its understanding of all of the options surrounding pain management.

Why Does the CDC Care About Kratom?

It’s still not entirely clear that the CDC does care about kratom. Still, the docket opened in 2020 proves that this organization is willing to listen to citizens and challenge its current understanding of the options for pain management. The opioid crisis in the United States is hard to ignore, and this particular government organization seems motivated to explore alternatives to opioids. The following quote is from the initial request for comment:

“Interested persons or organizations are invited to participate by submitting written views, recommendations, and data related to perspectives on and experiences with pain and pain management. CDC invites comments specifically on topics focused on using or prescribing opioid pain medications, non-opioid medications, or non-pharmacological treatments (e.g., exercise therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy). These topics are as follows:

• Experiences managing pain, which might include the benefits, risks, and/or harms of the pain management options listed above.
• Experiences choosing among the pain management options listed above, including considering factors such as each option’s accessibility, cost, benefits, and/or risks.
• Experiences getting the information needed to make pain management decisions.”

How to Advocate for Kratom the Right Way

Anyone wishing to contribute to the CDC docket had to do so on or before June 16, 2020. If you didn’t get the chance to advocate for kratom at that time, don’t worry, there are still plenty of other opportunities. If you’re willing to share your story publicly, tell others about the impact kratom products have had on your life.

If you decide to share your kratom story, please keep all of the following in mind:

• Unless you are a doctor or a medical researcher with significant evidence, it’s best to avoid making medical claims. Keep it about your own experience with kratom as opposed to making sweeping claims about the benefits of kratom.
• Encourage people to follow the science when you see them making inaccurate claims about kratom. As noted by Albert Garcia-Romeu, Ph.D., with Johns Hopkins Medicine, “there has been a bit of fear mongering,” when it comes to kratom.
• Be polite! You’re more likely to win hearts and minds when you strike an even tone and seek to educate instead of arguing.

Buy Kratom in Its Purest Form at Laughing Lion Herbs

Here at Laughing Lion Herbs, we pride ourselves on offering a diverse selection of premium kratom products. The decision to buy kratom is a personal one, but we want everyone who wants this plant to have access to it in its purest form. We work hard to establish effective processes and practices that protect the quality of every product we sell. We invite you to contact us with questions or visit our online kratom store today.