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Kratom’s way less dangerous than alcohol. Every year alcohol kills more people in the US then all of the illegal drugs combined.
If you’re gonna start Crusading against drugs, you better start with alcohol.
I've used it to lessen my use of Adderall for narcolepsy and it's been a lifesaver.
I mixed about 2 tsp into water in the afternoon when I'm dragging, rather than taking more prescription stimulant. I use it between 1-3 times a week for at least 5 years, with several month long breaks in this time.
I think the weird derivative chemicals from it are probably dangerous, but I personally haven't experienced any problems with routine kratom use. I only use the powdered plant form I order from a reputable source, not the gas station drinks with synthetic versions.
Similar story here - it undoubtedly has improved my quality of life. I too use it as a kind of "herbal adderall", and only use plain leaf powder from a trusted vendor with many years in the business who provides testing data and tests every single incoming batch for contaminants.
It has addictive qualities, sure, but the safety profile is similar to coffee or cannabis. The benefits, for me at least, far outweigh any risks, which are minimal to begin with.
Kratom is insidious as fuck. I know three people who have successfully used it to quit heroin, and an equal number of people (including myself) who ended up addicted to it for years. I have two friends who were using 15-20 grams daily before they quit. We're all fully off of it now with zero interest in picking it up again, but it's pretty awful shit.
For those 3 people that got off horsey that seems like it was a life changing substance for them though.
Like any addictive substance if you take it every day you're going to get physically and mentally addicted.
It's not sold, marketed, or regulated as an addictive substance though, which is a huge fucking problem and a big part of the issue.
They sell it in little bottles as an "herbal energy supplement" on gas station counters, right next to the 5 hour energy drink. Some companies basically market it as a health tonic.
I'm all for people doing what they want, but the industry intentionally makes that hard do so in an informed and responsible fashion.
You are right about this it should be labelled properly
You know those little bottles of drugs arent even the same from store to store, right?
Dozens, thousands of different people bulk buy that packaging and bottles from china, and put whatever the fuck they can get into them. Same bottle, same packaging, same name, 30 minutes down the road can have a completely different drug in it.
The random pills and potions at the gas station shouldn't exist - I don't think any reasonable person would disagree with that. They are categorically different in terms of risk. As such, the responsible vendors and quality products should be differentiated from the garbage out there.
The concern, as someone who is helped greatly by this product, is that any attempt to ban the dangerous products will end up throwing the baby out with the bathwater - as gov't is wont to do with such things.
Literally everything is addictive. Alcohol isn't sold as an addictive substance yet it gets a pass for some reason
Here's an uplifting video on kratom.
Kratom is revolting stuff.
Just like any other drug, if you use it every single day you're going to get addicted and have problems.
Its hard to feel sorry for someone who does that. Learn some self control. I've been through heroin withdrawals in my youth as well as the seizures that come with benzo withdrawals and I figured out before I was 19 "huh, it seems like if I take these drugs every day I'm going to get addicted"
Its common sense.
It really is not that hard to skip a couple days here and there even if you're a fiend. And if you're a poly drug addict just switch drugs every 3 days or so. I did that for a time after 19 and I did it heavy and had zero withdrawals when I quit doing it that way. So there's really no excuse for that shit. Learn how to control your addictions or go to rehab.
The drug war sure isn't working though, is it? The courts ruin way more lives than addiction does.
Idk what the answer is but this prohibition across the board is stupid and doesn't actually help anyone.
I find myself hating the physical drugs existence less and less and hating the addict who lacks any modicum of self control more and more as time goes on. Go through the withdrawals and move on, no excuse.
There seems to be a significant percentage of the population that needs its hand held for every single thing. That's why we can't get OTC antibiotics, that's why they won't prescribe pain pills anymore to people who need them, that's why they have created a prison system that is the most filled per capita of any country even though we aren't even close to the size of others. People who lack self control have ruined it for others who know how to manage medications/drugs effectively and not do it every single day and then act surprised when they start having withdrawals.
I know people who can't get pain medicine (again because of all the fucking addicts who lack any self control ruining it for everyone else) and kratom and 7OH is all they have to manage that pain. So of course its going to be demonized. Can't have people being helped if it can make them feel warm and tingly as a side effect.
I think you should be applauded for, and encouraged to, share your experiences. But they are your experiences, not universal experiences.
The fact that people do get addicted to things all the time would suggest that the "self-control" picture isn't as simple as all that.
Some people who get addicted to a drug, or to gambling, or to other things, are, to all appearances, accomplished, capable, put-together people with settled lives. People who clearly have demonstrated self-control in other contexts.
Yeah this feels very much like margeawanna talk from the 80's and people seem to be drinking the koolaid.
bro you're not gonna get addicted to ibuprofen
this post was submitted on 02 Sep 2026
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