A trendy “plant tonic” that promises focus and relaxation is quietly becoming a public health concern. Walk into a gas station or vape shop in many parts of the United States and you’ll see them lined up near the counter little blue bottles with the words Feel Free printed on the label. Marketed as a natural way to boost mood, productivity, and focus, the two-ounce shots look as harmless as kombucha or an energy drink. But behind their wellness branding lies an ingredient that doctors, regulators, and recovering users say can wreak havoc: kratom.

What began as a boutique herbal tonic has grown into a nationwide phenomenon. And for some people, that harmless-looking bottle has led to cycles of dependency, debt, and even rehab.

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Feel Free is made by Botanic Tonics, a Texas-based company that launched the product in 2020. Its formula blends two herbal ingredients: kava root, traditionally used in Pacific Island cultures for relaxation, and kratom, a Southeast Asian plant with stimulant and opioid-like properties.

At first glance, it seems to fit right into America’s booming functional beverage market. The company advertises it as a caffeine-free energy boost and stress reliever “plant ingredients for productivity and focus.” It’s now sold in more than 24,000 convenience stores, smoke shops, and health food outlets across the country. Priced between $8 and $13 a bottle, the drink has become popular among students, young professionals, and even parents looking for a “natural” alternative to alcohol or coffee.

But what the label doesn’t highlight is the risk of dependence. Feel Free comes with a serving suggestion of one ounce, half a bottle, and a warning that it “may be habit-forming.”

What Are Kratom's Effects?

Kratom, scientifically known as Mitragyna speciosa, has been used in Southeast Asia for centuries. Laborers chewed its leaves for energy, while traditional healers brewed it as a tea for pain or diarrhea.

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In the US, kratom began appearing in the late 1990s and quickly developed a following among people looking for alternatives to opioids or antidepressants. Today, nearly 2 million Americans are estimated to use kratom in some form — powders, capsules, extracts, or beverages like Feel Free.

The problem lies in how kratom interacts with the brain. Its alkaloids, primarily mitragynine, bind to the same receptors as opioids. At low doses, kratom can act like a stimulant. At higher doses, it produces sedative and euphoric effects. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified it as an opioid, citing risks of dependence, withdrawal, liver damage, and — in rare cases — overdose.

Despite these warnings, kratom remains unregulated at the federal level. Only a handful of states, including Alabama, Indiana, and Rhode Island, have banned it outright. In much of the country, it can be purchased legally by anyone, including minors, from gas stations and corner shops.

Why Has Social Media Sparked Alarm on Feel Free Drink?

Awareness of Feel Free’s addictive potential gained traction on TikTok, where users shared cautionary tales of dependency. In one viral video, Texas resident Misha Brown recounted being approached by a teenager who tried to convince him to buy Feel Free from a Circle K store. When he refused, the boy attempted to grab his wallet.

Inside the store, Brown said the attendant explained that customers came in “six times a day” for the product. The video, which garnered more than 23 million views, ignited a wave of comments from young people describing their own struggles with Feel Free — from financial strain to full-blown withdrawal symptoms.

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For many, what started as an occasional pick-me-up quickly escalated into a daily habit.

Feel Free: How A Wellness Drink Turned Into A Nightmare With Major Health Risks?

Addiction medicine specialists are now sounding the alarm. Dr. Robert Levy, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School, has treated numerous patients for kratom dependency. Withdrawal symptoms can mirror those of opioids: nausea, sweating, insomnia, irritability, and severe cravings.

The risk is compounded by Feel Free’s formula. While kratom stimulates, kava depresses the nervous system. Each herb acts on different receptors in the brain, kava on the same ones as benzodiazepines like Xanax, and kratom on opioid receptors. Combined, they can create an overstimulating and destabilizing effect that heightens the likelihood of dependence.

Some users report drinking multiple bottles a day, far exceeding the recommended limit. The cost alone can lead to financial stress, while abrupt attempts to quit often result in withdrawal that drives people back to the drink.

Regulation and Legal Gray Areas

The FDA has repeatedly warned against kratom use, but it remains stuck in regulatory limbo. In 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proposed classifying kratom’s compounds as Schedule I drugs, alongside heroin and LSD, but backed down after intense lobbying from advocacy groups.

More recently, the FDA recommended tighter control of products containing 7-OH, a synthetic kratom derivative with even higher abuse potential. But Feel Free contains natural kratom leaf extract, which falls outside those recommendations.

Meanwhile, Botanic Tonics has faced lawsuits over claims that its marketing misled customers about potential risks. In 2024, the company agreed to a class-action settlement, though it did not admit wrongdoing. It has since updated labels to emphasize warnings — but insists the drink is safe when used as directed.

Why Is Kratom-Based Drinks Growing Public Health Debate?

The popularity of Feel Free highlights a larger issue: the booming U.S. market for “natural” supplements that skirt the edges of regulation. Unlike prescription medications, products like kratom tonics are not required to undergo rigorous clinical trials or FDA approval before hitting shelves.

That leaves consumers with little reliable information about safety, dosage, or long-term effects. And when a product is packaged like an energy shot, sold next to candy and soda, and advertised as a wellness aid, it’s easy for people — especially young ones — to underestimate its risks.

Should Gas Station Wellness Drinks Feel Free With Kratom Be Better Regulated?

Experts say more research is urgently needed. While some studies suggest kratom may have therapeutic potential for pain management or opioid withdrawal, the risks of dependence and misuse cannot be ignored.

For now, consumers are largely left to navigate the market on their own. Health officials advise those struggling with Feel Free or other kratom products to seek professional help, either through their primary care provider or addiction treatment programs.

Parents are encouraged to talk openly with their children about kratom and similar substances. Signs of use may include mood swings, social withdrawal, digestive issues, or unexplained financial strain.

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Feel Free was launched as a lifestyle drink for relaxation and focus, but its addictive potential has become impossible to ignore. It sits at the intersection of America’s appetite for quick fixes, the booming supplement industry, and gaps in regulation.

What looks like a harmless blue bottle can, for some, become the start of a struggle with dependence. Until stronger oversight and clearer science emerge, consumers are left with a difficult truth: “natural” does not always mean safe.

Andhra Pradesh may soon follow Australia's steps and ban social media for teenagers under the age of 16 in the state.

Nara Lokesh, Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Real Time Governance and Human Resources Development Minister for Andhra Pradesh, told Bloomberg at the World Economic Forum 2026 Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland: "As a state, we are studying Australia’s under-16 law, and yes, I believe we need to create a strong legal enactment.

"Youngsters below a certain age should not be on such platforms, as they do not fully understand the content they are exposed to. Thus, a strong legal framework may be required."

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TDP national spokesperson Deepak Reddy supported Lokesh's claim and stated: "Children below a certain age are not emotionally mature enough to comprehend the negative and harmful content that is freely available online. That is why the Andhra government is studying global best practices and examining Australia's under-16 social media law."

If implemented successfully, Andhra Pradesh would be the first Indian state to issue the ban and could pave the way for other states to consider such policies. State officials are yet to clarify when the rule will be implemented and if any fines will be attached to it.

Is Any Other State Considering a Ban?

The petition was to emphasize on the awareness of the stakeholders and parental windows in the device that could control the menace of pornographic material which is easily accessible to children. The court asked Centre to order internet provider service companies to provide a 'Parental Window' to prevent children from accessing such content.

The Madurai Bench of Justices G Jayachandran and KK Ramakrishnan told the authorities of child rights to accelerate this matter. The bench also noted that children could only be prevented from consuming such content only if there is a parental control app on the device.

Judges also noted that parents have a higher responsibility in this, as children are highly vulnerable to such content.

READ MORE: Australia Social Media Ban Explained: Why Government Plans to Restrict Accounts of Under-16s

What Did Australia Do?

To protect the mental health of children, Australia has successfully banned several social media apps including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, and streaming platforms Kick and Twitch.

YouTube Kids, Google Classroom and WhatsApp are not covered under this rule as they do not fit those criteria.

While anyone under 16 will be still able to watch most of the content without logging in, however, they cannot have an account on it. Critics are urging the government to widen the ban to include online gaming platforms such as Roblox and Discord, which are currently not covered.

The government says that it will also reduce the negative impact of social media's "design features that encourage [young people] to spend more time on screens, while also serving up content that can harm their health and wellbeing".

A government study which was commissioned in 2025 found that 96% of children aged 10 to 15 used social media, and that seven out of 10 of them were exposed to harmful content. These content were misogynistic and violent in its nature, furthermore, content promoted eating disorders and suicide.

Children and parents will not be punished for infringing the ban, instead, social media companies will face fines of up to A$49.5m, which is equivalent of US$32m for serious or repeated breaches.

The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPH) has issued a statewide alert across Tamil Nadu due to a sudden uptick in chikungunya cases in multiple cities.

Cases have been reported across Chennai, Villupuram, Tenkasi, Theni, Cuddalore, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Ariyalur. It remains unknown how many people have been affected and if any deaths have occurred.

Caused by the chikungunya virus, chikungunya virus disease (CHIKVD) is spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) to humans. The illness usually starts with flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, joint pain and rashes.

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Typically, the illness has no clear no symptoms, especially in children and can easily be misdiagnosed as dengue and Zika. While there are no specific antiviral treatments for chikungunya virus infections, medications such as antipyretic and analgesic medications (such as paracetamol) for fever and pain can be used to ease the pain.

Most patients recover completely from the infection, but occasional cases of eye, heart, and neurological complications have been previously been reported with CHIKV infections.

What Are Tamil Nadu Officials Doing To Contain Cases?

Authorities have also emphasized that all government and private hospitals as well as diagnostic laboratories, need to timely report cases to ensure the infection does not spread . Any delay in reporting, officials noted, could allow the virus to spread rapidly within communities.

On the local level, district entomologists and health inspectors have been told to eliminate stagnant water in artificial containers and conduct weekly mass-cleaning drives in high-risk areas.

The DPH has also ordered that all designated dengue and chikungunya wards in hospitals be kept mosquito-free, with adequate bed strength and sufficient mosquito nets for patients.

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Can Chikungunya Spread Easily?

Cases typically emerge mostly in the Americas, Asia and Africa and occasionally in Europe. However, nearly 30,000 CHIKVD cases have been recorded, including 83 associated deaths from 12 countries namely from China, Singapore, Pakistan, France, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, marking it as one of the biggest outbreaks in the world.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. As he spoke on the European solidarity amid US President Donald Trumps' treat to annex Greenland, something else seemed to take the attention away. Macron was seen wearing a pair of blue-tinted mirrored aviator sunglasses. The surprising part was that he wore it indoors. French media had already reported that he was seen wearing sunglasses since last week.

Trump also mocked Emmanuel Macron’s sunglasses during his speech at Davos, joking, “what the hell happened?” regarding the French president’s appearance.

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Why Was Emmanuel Macron Wearing Sunglasses Indoors?

On Monday, Macron said that reflective glasses were to disguise a minor eye injury that he had sustained after having been spotted with a heavily bloodshot right eye. "Apologies for the shades, but I have to wear them for a while". He further said that it is for a "mild eye condition".

Last week, when he appeared at a military event in southern France with red eye, while addressing the troop, he said, it was "totally benign" and "completely insignificant", he also added, "Please pardon the unsightly appearance of my eye". He also joked about it, calling it "l'oiel du tigre" or the "eye of the tiger". This was a reference to rock band Survivor's song used in the 1982 boxing moving Rocky III. He said, "For those who get the reference, it is a sign of determination".

What Happened To Macron's Eyes?

As per the French media reports, Macron appeared to have a sub-conjunctival hemorrhage. This means there is a broken blood vessel in his eyes. It is harmless, painless, and does not affect the vision. It also cannot cause permanent injury to the eye, and clears within a fortnight.

Macron Wears Sunglasses Indoor: Is It Absolutely Necessary?

Medical doctor and media commentator Jimmy Mohamed told French broadcaster RTL that Macron "opted for this style for aesthetic reasons, because he is a public figure. However, sunglasses are not necessary to protect vision in this condition. Some people wear it to avoid attracting attention.

"Some people might think he's ill, so to avoid being photographed in that state, he decided to wear sunglasses. The glasses protect his image, but not really his eye," said Jimmy Mohamed.

Read: Why Can't I Hear When I Take My Glasses Off?

How Have Netizen Reacted To Macron Wearing Sunglasses?

He has been called 'kéké', which is a French slang for a show off. Others also joked about him being a "cyborg" or emulating Hollywood actor Top Cruise in Top Gun, the 1986 movie that made wearing aviators a fashion statement.

What Is Sub-conjunctival hemorrhage?

Sub-conjunctival hemorrhage or SCH is a common ocular condition defined by extravasation of blood beneath the conjunctiva, producing a sharply demarcated red patch on the scleral surface. The condition is usually painless and does not impair vision. It usually resolves within 1 to 2 weeks, making it a frequent but benign cause of ocular redness.

It usually happens by a sudden pressure increase from coughing, sneezing, vomiting, or heavy lifting. This could rupture tiny eye blood vessels, or from eye trauma like rubbing or foreign bodies, and can be linked to risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, blood thinners, or even childbirth in newborns.