http://13wham.com/news/local/local-kratom-users-disagree-with-new-fda-warnings
ROCHESTER — The FDA released findings on Tuesday that suggest an herbal supplement promoted as an alternative pain remedy contains the same chemicals found in opioids.
Kratom is drawn from a plant and has become increasingly popular for recovering opioid addicts looking to ween themselves off of painkillers.
Rob Brockler, owner of the Kratom Shop on Monroe Avenue, says it helped him break his drug habit so much that he opened the shop in December to help others.
“It’s a unique plant that deserves to remain legal,” Brockler said.
FDA scientists revealed that the 25 most common chemicals in Kratom behave like compounds found in opioids.
Kratom is banned in at least five states in the United States.
“It was green Kratom that I started with,” said Emily Szarak, a user of the supplement. “That has been a lifesaver. I feel like a human again.”
Szarak told 13WHAM that she is trying to have a baby and turned to Kratom after years of taking prescription pills to treat chronic pain.
“With the physical pains of getting off of medications, [Kratom] helps tremendously with that,” Szarak said. “Your bones ache sometimes. Kratom helps with that.”
Brendon Kuchinick, of Victor, has spent eight months out of rehab.
“After rehab, I took half a spoonful of Kratom,” Kuchinick said. “I felt motivated to do things that I slept the entire night.”
Kratom is legal under federal law but after the FDA’s findings, the DEA will now have to decide if Kratom should be in the same category as heroin and LSD.
Retired Monroe County Forensic Scientist Jim Wesley says he’d like to see more data before any decisions are made.
“I think as a minimum, you should be 21 years or over to buy it,” Wesley said. “I would like to see some information on how its used. I think right now, it is really up in the air.
The FDA says its identified 44 reports of death involving Kratom since 2011. Critics say the research is flawed, noting that some of those victims mix Kratom with other drugs.
Filed under: General Problems
They got it all fd up they changed the rule on what’s an opioid by saying anything that mimics am opioid is an opioid even if it does not contain opiates. This attack on our demographic of cpp is completely out of control. They would rather see us all dead rather than have us live out the remainder of our pain filled lives filled with rage and frustration shaming and humiliating us because we are in pain? Like its our fault we have health conditions that cause pain? I would much rather have a pain free life than this miserable fucking existence that i have now. It is not addicting i have been taking it almost year after spine surgery only 6 weeks of opioid meds that stopped working. In 3 wks I’m having a 3 level acdf cervical spine surgery and i can’t get nothing FOR THE FUCKIN PAIN IM IN NOW? NOTHING I AM LOSING IT! THIS HAS GOT TO STOP. OR SOMETHING REALLY BAD WILL HAPPEN. SESSIONS AND THOSE IDIOTS At the CDC AAL NEED TO UNDERGO MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATION. I hope they burn in hell.
I hear ya! You sound as pissed off as me! Getting cut back every month. I know it’s not as bad as cold turkey but the pain I have is coming back with a vengeance. I tried another pain clinic……lol what a waste of time. No matter many MRI’s CT scans etc. I provided, this Dr. is going by the CDC asshole guidelines.
Yah i been pissed for a couple of years regarding this bs. I hope they are brought to justice becausr none of it makes sense. It’s like one day i woke up and the world was turned upside down. Where heroin addicts get a safe place and people who are in pain (verifiable) are treated like scum of the earth deserving of ridicule and judgement for something completely out of our control. Wtf ok!
There are no opioid compounds in kratom. PERIOD! This is a lie. The research that has been done by unbiased researchers at university of Mississippi and other research has confirmed this. Kratom activates mu opioid receptors but does not bind to them, hence it is not addictive, nor does it interfere with breathing. I’ve used kratom tea for years for pain and anxiety, and I’m 65 yrs old. It has harmed me in no way at all. This herb helps millions. Yes, restrict it from minors but do not ban it.