Kratom Leaves in a ‘Wellness Drink’ Is Making People Addicted; Influencer Calls Out, Hundreds Join In

“This is a warning specifically for parents” — Influencer Michael Brown recently released a video warning parents as well as others, about a potentially addictive drink that is easily available at gas stations in the US. He detailed how, during a casual visit to the gas station store for a beverage, he was approached by a young boy who asked him to buy ‘Feel Free’ for him. Despite being refused, the kid persisted and even tried lunging for Michael’s wallet, leaving him shaken up.While paying at the counter, Michael recalled asking the shop cashier what ‘Feel Free’ was, to which she pointed at little blue bottles on the counter. She said people are so addicted to it that sometimes they visit 5–6 times a day to buy it — “It’s addictive and people lose their minds.” A quick look at the comments section of the post, which now has more than 9 million views on Instagram, had many people shocked at the severity of the drink and its consequences. Different healthcare professionals also detailed their experience with patients. “It’s Kratom! Have had patients with seizures because of this and also babies experiencing withdrawal from maternal use during pregnancy. It’s no joke,” commented Dr. Shilpa, MD, Child Neurologist and Development Specialist.To know how many people are affected or it continues to affect, you do not have to look too far — a subreddit known as QuittingFeelFree, which has 5k members, and QuittingKratom with 52k members, are prime spots to get first-person accounts of people who struggled for years or months with their addictions.In one of the stories, Jasmine Adeoye from Austin posted on TikTok that just a few months before June 2024, she drank several bottles of Feel Free a day and found that quitting it was not easy.Last year, the production company of Feel Free also faced lawsuits, however, many people are not aware of the same. CBS News had reported that Botanic Tonics had also faced a class-action lawsuit filed in 2023. The lawsuit alleged that the company's marketing was misleading and targeted individuals with a history of addiction. In a statement, the company said it had "fallen short of the high standards of transparency" and implemented changes like enhanced labeling and age restrictions.Feel Free and List of IngredientsOne of the main ingredients listed in the ‘Feel Free’ drinks is ground kratom leaves. Now a regular person would think — how bad can leaves be? — and consume the drink, but it’s these same leaves that are risky and can lead to severe addiction.Native to Southeast Asia, the US Food and Drug Administration explains that it also carries the risk of addiction, seizures, and, in rare cases, death. Since kratom is unregulated in the U.S., some products are sold in highly concentrated forms and may contain contaminants like heavy metals and harmful bacteria.What Happens with Unregulated Use of Kratom?The American Addiction Centers detailed how lower doses of kratom could help people increase energy and alertness, while higher doses could produce effects similar to that of opioid drug abuse. They detailed a 7-year study done from 2011–2017. The study pointed out how there were 1,800 calls to poison control centers about kratom, with most of those calls happening in the last two years of that period. Here are some things that can happen with unregulated use of kratom:Addiction and WithdrawalWhile it's not common, long-term and heavy kratom use can lead to addiction. People who stop using it suddenly might experience withdrawal symptoms that feel similar to the flu, such as nausea, vomiting, body aches, and chills.Lack of RegulationThe FDA has not approved kratom for any use. This means that kratom products are not regulated and can sometimes be contaminated with dangerous substances like heavy metals and harmful bacteria. The FDA has warned consumers not to use kratom and has seized shipments of kratom-containing products.Mixing with Other SubstancesTaking kratom with other drugs or alcohol can be very dangerous. In rare but serious cases, this combination has led to severe side effects like liver damage and even death.OverdoseOverdosing on kratom alone is very rare. However, when it is combined with other substances, the risk increases. For example, a CDC report linked kratom to 152 deaths in 2016 and 2017, but other substances were involved in 87% of those cases.

Kratom Leaves in a ‘Wellness Drink’ Is Making People Addicted; Influencer Calls Out, Hundreds Join In

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