Can Kratom Get You High?

What Is Kratom?

“Kratom” commonly refers to an herbal substance that can produce opioid- and stimulant-like effects. Kratom and kratom-based products are currently legal and accessible in many areas, though U.S. and international agencies continue to review emerging evidence to inform kratom policy.

While there are no uses for kratom approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, people report using kratom to manage drug withdrawal symptoms and cravings (especially related to opioid abuse), pain, fatigue, and mental health problems. [1]

How Fast Can You Get Addicted To Kratom?

Can kratom get you high? yes, and some experts are concerned about kratom’s addictive potential because the main kratom compounds, mitragynine, and 7-hydroxymitragynine, partially activate the same receptors (specific molecular structures on the surface of nerve cells) in the brain on which drugs with known addictive properties act. However, researchers have observed that the way kratom compounds activate these receptors may reduce the potential for addiction relative to opioids. Further, studies in animal models indicate the addictive potential of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine may differ from one another. Further research is needed to better understand how fast can you get addicted to kratom and how various compounds related to kratom interact to influence the risk of withdrawal and addiction. [3]

What Are The Effects Of Kratom?

Researchers are still learning how kratom and kratom compounds affect the body, as well as how short- and long-term kratom use may impact health. While the evidence is quickly evolving, early studies have revealed important information about how the drug works.

• Effects may vary widely. Like all drugs, kratom’s effects may depend on the amount taken, potency (concentration and strength), formulation of the product, the way it is ingested, other drugs in a person’s system, a person’s underlying medical conditions, and a person’s previous experience with the substance, among other factors. Importantly, kratom products vary, so effects are difficult to predict. Some kratom products have been found to contain contaminants that produce effects not associated with kratom or kratom compounds alone.
   
• Kratom produces opioid- and stimulant-like effects. People who use kratom report both stimulant-like effects (increased energy, alertness, and rapid heart rate) and effects that are similar to opioids and sedatives (relaxation, pain relief, and confusion). Can kratom get you high? while many people who use kratom report that smaller doses of kratom produce stimulant-like effects and larger doses produce opioid- or sedative-like effects, studies have not yet established that these effects depend on the amount or method of kratom consumed.
   
• Mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, and other kratom compounds drive these effects. The effect of kratom products can vary depending on the concentration and combination of specific kratom compounds within the product. While kratom leaves contain many chemical compounds that may influence the human body, the most well-studied is mitragynine. When ingested, mitragynine breaks down into another chemical called 7-hydroxymitragynine, which also influences the body and is an important subject of research.
   
• Adverse effects range from mild to severe. Some people who use kratom have reported mild side effects, such as nausea, constipation, dizziness, and drowsiness. In case of reports, clinicians report seeing patients with a wide range of rare but serious adverse effects associated with kratom exposure—including mental and neurological symptoms (confusion, tremors, and seizures), heart and lung problems (high blood pressure and slow breathing), gastrointestinal problems (nausea and vomiting) and liver problems. A very small number of deaths have been linked to kratom products, and nearly all cases involved other drugs or contaminants.
   
• Drug interactions may influence effects. Studies suggest many people who use kratom also use other drugs and have conditions for which medications are often prescribed. Case reports suggest using kratom in combination with other drugs (sometimes called polysubstance use) may produce severe adverse effects, such as liver problems or even death.
   
• Long-term health effects are not well understood. Because kratom research is relatively new compared to more widely used drugs, there is little evidence to determine how kratom use may affect someone over time. Case reports do show regular, long-term, kratom use in large amounts may be associated with serious liver problems. These cases appear to occur unpredictably in a small minority of people who use kratom, and it is unclear what role other substances and underlying health conditions may play. Researchers are also still learning how often and to what extent people who use kratom experience withdrawal or substance use disorder symptoms related to kratom use.
   
• Research on the potential therapeutic effects of kratom is ongoing. Can kratom get you high? yes, and many researchers have not proven kratom to be safe or effective for any medical purpose, though kratom has been used in traditional medicine. Many people who use kratom products report doing so to self-treat pain, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms (especially related to opioid use). [4]

DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria For Substance Use Disorders

Can kratom get you high? yes, and know that substance use disorders are defined as a pattern of use that results in marked distress and/or impairment, with two or more of the following symptoms over the course of a 12-month period:

1. Using the substance in larger amounts or over a longer period of time than intended
2. Unsuccessful attempts or persistent desire to reduce the use
3. Too much time spent on obtaining, using, and/or recovering from the effects of the substance
4. A strong craving for the substance
5. Significant interference with roles at work, school, or home
6. Continued use despite recurrent social or interpersonal consequences
7. Reducing or giving up important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of the substance use
8. Substance use in situations in which it may be physically hazardous
9. Substance use despite recurrent or persistent physical or psychological consequences
10. Tolerance of the substance
11. Withdrawal from the substance [5]

Kraton Detox

Inpatient drug rehab center programs usually begin with detoxification (detox) in a medically supervised detox program, such as Kratom detox. These provide professional support and medical monitoring while the client flushes harmful toxins from their body gained during substance abuse. Detox is the initial, physical part of treatment. Once this stage is complete, clients most often move to the next level of care.

Inpatient rehab center programs require clients to live onsite at the facility for the duration of treatment. Depending on the facility, the participant will be issued a bed in either a private or shared room for their stay. Each day, clients are required to attend counseling, therapy, classes, and different types of treatments every day for the majority of the day.

Programs, services, and treatments vary. We Level Up rehab center offers inpatient substance abuse treatment. Offering co-occurring treatments. We treat the entirety of addiction and behavioral health disorders including their secondary corresponding illnesses to improve long-term recovery outcomes. Get a free health assessment and find out what treatment options are most suitable for you. Call to learn more about how long is kratom in your system.

Once detox is complete, a new doorway in treatment opens up, which is referred to as a residential level of care. The residential care program slowly and effectively introduces the individual into an atmosphere of therapeutic growth, marked by master’s level therapists, clinicians, group counselors, psychiatrists, and a community of like-minded individuals with the same aim: to attain sobriety and live a great life.

Some of the many modalities applied and practiced within our residential treatment facility are:

How We Can Help? Searched for “Can kratom get you high?” or are you seeking a national inpatient rehab destination?

We Level Up treatment tailors the program to the individual and the individual to the program of recovery. We begin by assessing our client’s history of mental health, drugs, and alcohol-related past.

The needs of each patient are specific and personalized because we aim to provide comprehensive support for mental health, addiction, and dual diagnosis treatment. The supportive environment is designed accordingly to give patients 24-hour care for sobriety. Most importantly, we hope to have our clients live comfortably within the facility during this crucial and fragile time.

We Level Up prioritizes removing temptations for relapse and applying an air of recovery into every component of the treatment timeline. We Level Up finds that when clients are living in a supportive community, especially during their early recovery process, they can truly focus on what matters most: their recovery.

If you or a loved one is struggling with kratom addiction, reach out to We Level Up because we may be able to help you explore treatment options. For any questions such as “Can kratom get you high?”, contact WLU today.