MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A growing debate continues over kratom and kratom-derived products.
Some people said it helps with pain, focus, or anxiety, but doctors warn concentrated products sold in stores can be extremely dangerous.
After FOX13’s last report, some viewers said kratom had helped them but doctors said that doesn’t remove the risks.
A Memphis mother is warning other parents after her 25-year-old son died by suicide in July.
Greg Kiesow said he lost 10 months of his life to addiction before finding a path to recovery.
“I literally just spent 10 months sitting on my back porch, watching the birds in the backyard in my bird feeder,” Kiesow said. “I became a ghost of myself. I had no passion. I had no drive. I had no energy.”
Kiesow said he had been sober from alcohol for 18 1/2 years when he tried a free sample of 7-OH. He said he quickly became hooked on the highly concentrated kratom-derived product.
“Once you develop a tolerance to it, which happens quickly within weeks, you don’t feel good for any more than 45 minutes to maybe an hour and a half,” Kiesow said. “And then at the four-hour mark, you start to go into withdrawal.”
Kiesow said it made him feel physically terrible. He said his habit cost him as much as $75 a day.
He has since kicked the habit.
“I was able to taper off of it for 72 days, and that’s when I became aware of what kratom is, especially 7-OH,” Kiesow said. “I formed Kratom Anonymous within 17, maybe 20, days after getting off of it.”
Kiesow now leads the free online peer-support group, but some people argue kratom has benefited them despite its bad rep.
Addiction psychiatrist Dr. Shubi Shakti said people should understand the difference between kratom leaf and concentrated products.
“The issue really with kratom that’s being bought as gummies or capsules is that there’s a psychoactive component to kratom,” Shakti said.
Shakti said the leaf contains about 0.5% to 1.5% of that compound, compared with about 95% in some capsules or gummies.
She said these concentrated products can act on opioid receptors.
“They can’t stop,” Shakti said. “When they stop, they start to have withdrawal symptoms, just like somebody who would be using heroin or misusing morphine. So it can be extremely, extremely dangerous.”
Shakti said anyone struggling should seek medical help.
Kiesow adds that peer support can also make all the difference.
“You see 10 or 20 other people who have all been there, and they can say yes, what you’re feeling is normal,” Kiesow said. “What you’re feeling can be overcome, and you can conquer this addiction.”
Kiesow said Kratom Anonymous offers 15 free virtual meetings each week for people seeking support. He said people do not have to speak or turn on their cameras to join.
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