Many people keep using opioids because withdrawal is extremely painful. Heroin becomes a replacement when over the counter options are no longer available. Kratom, a plant from Southeast Asia, is thought to help with withdrawal symptoms. Unfortunately, it is not widely studied or accepted in the US, and even banned in multiple states. Because it is a plant, there is no financial incentive for it to be developed into a standardized drug and part of the problem is that there is no standardized access to clean Kratom, which has led to death and illness in some cases. While it has potential, more studies are needed to determine dosages and full effects.
Key Takeaways:
- Kratom, an unregulated supplement, is seen as one the new ways to help opiods with withdrawal.
- Many people started on opiods due to pain conditions and increased the dosage to deal with that pain.
- The natural aspect of it is appealing to many as it is seen as the antithesis to the synthetic opiods they are on.
“Addicts are turning to a supplement called kratom to wean themselves off abusive drugs. But the plant is unregulated and there is little research on its potential.”
Read more: http://www.cnn.com/videos/health/2017/10/25/gupta-heroin-epidemic-kratom-plant-ebof-pkg.cnn
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