Kratom Misuse in Veterans: Effects & Addiction

Although there are no specific statistics on kratom use in Veterans, substance use in general in this population is somewhat common, with statistics from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicating that 2.4 million Veterans age 18 and older were diagnosed with a substance use disorder that same year.¹  One study reports that among Veterans who visited the VA for the first time, close to 11% meet criteria for a SUD diagnosis.²

If you’re a Veteran who uses kratom, or you know a Veteran who does, you might be interested in learning more about it. This article will explain how kratom is used, whether you can use it for opioid withdrawal, and its addiction potential. We will also discuss kratom dangers and kratom effects on Veterans, explaining how Veterans can seek treatment for substance misuse.

What is Kratom?

Kratom is a native Southeast Asian tree whose leaves contain different compounds that impact the body.³ Two of these compounds are opioid-like compounds known as mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, which interact with opioid receptors in the brain to produce different effects.³ People from Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, and other Southeast Asian countries have traditionally used the leaves to increase energy and alleviate pain, as well as a substitute for opium.⁴

Kratom use has recently spread to the U.S. and other areas for a variety of purposes, and it is promoted as a legal psychoactive on various websites.⁴ Kratom is not listed as a controlled substance, but it has been closely monitored by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in recent years.⁴

How is Kratom Used?

Kratom comes in different forms, including capsules, leaves, extracts, and powders.³ People use kratom in different ways, including swallowing pills or capsules, mixing kratom powder into food or drinks, chewing the leaves or brewing them in tea, or ingesting the liquid extract.³

Kratom has different properties that can cause various effects, depending on the dose, although exact doses have not been well-studied.^2,4 The effects can resemble those caused by opioids and stimulants.³

Can You Use Kratom for Opioid Withdrawal?

People who are struggling with opioid addiction or misuse may use kratom as a way of self-medicating opioid misuse, cravings, and/or withdrawal symptoms.^2,4 Despite this, there are no approved uses for kratom in the U.S., and the FDA has warned people against kratom use in general.⁵ The FDA has concerns that kratom may have properties that expose users to the risks of addiction, misuse, and dependence, as it interacts with the same opioid receptors in the brain as morphine.⁵

This may help Veterans understand why kratom use is not recommended, even though some people report using it for opioid withdrawal and other concerns, such as pain, depression, or anxiety.^2,5

If you are experiencing opioid withdrawals, reach out to us right now by calling . We can help you safely and effectively detox from opioids and help you begin your journey towards recovery.

Effects of Kratom

Kratom can cause a variety of effects, which can vary widely and may depend on the amount used, the potency of the product, the way you use it, other substances you also use, your overall health, and whether you’ve used kratom before.³

As mentioned above, kratom can cause both stimulant and opioid-like effects. Some of these effects include:³

• Increased energy.
• Alertness.
• Rapid heart rate.
• Relaxation.
• Pain relief.

Kratom has also been associated with adverse effects that can range from being mild to severe, including:³

• Tremors.
• Seizures.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• High blood pressure^.
• Respiratory depression (dangerously slowed breathing).

The long-term health effects that kratom may produce are not well known, however some studies report that regular, continual use of kratom may be connected to serious liver problems.³ A very small number of deaths have been associated with kratom use, but it’s important to note that almost all of them involved other substances or contaminants.³

Is Kratom Addictive?

It’s not yet clear how addictive kratom might be, and researchers still have much to learn about kratom and its potential for addiction.³ Some research does seem to indicate that kratom can have addiction potential and, as mentioned above, the FDA is concerned that kratom use may expose people to the risks of addiction, misuse, and dependence.^4,5 While some evidence has indicated that kratom has the potential to cause dependence, this exact potential is not yet fully understood.¹

However, it’s possible that kratom has less dependence potential than that associated with traditional opioids, and a report from the World Health Organization suggests that people who stop using kratom mainly experience mild opioid-like withdrawal symptoms.^6,7 Veterans undergoing kratom withdrawal may experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, chills, diarrhea, excessive salivation, runny nose, body aches, restlessness, and irritability.⁷

Veterans who suspect that they have a problem with kratom or are struggling with opioid addiction should talk to a healthcare professional about their condition to learn more about potential treatment options.

Can You Overdose on Kratom?

It is possible to overdose on kratom, although research suggests that kratom overdose potential is less than that associated with traditional opioids.⁷ Fatal overdose is reported to be very rare.³ The CDC reports that between 2011 and 2017, the national poison center reporting database documented 1,807 calls regarding reported exposure to kratom.⁸

The CDC indicates that out of data on 27,338 drug overdose deaths that occurred from July 2016 to December 2017, 152 (0.56%) tested positive for kratom on toxicology reports, meaning that there was the presence of kratom in the system, but it was not the cause of death.⁸ Kratom, however, was determined to be the cause of death in 91 (59.9%) of the 152 kratom deaths.⁸

The report shows that in many of the cases, people used other substances simultaneously, which can make it difficult to determine the extent to which kratom was involved.^3,8 The CDC states that 80% of kratom deaths showed a history of substance misuse; fentanyl was listed as a cause of death for 65.1% of kratom cases containing other substances, followed by heroin (32.9%), benzodiazepines (22.4%), prescription opioids (19.7%), and cocaine (18.4%).⁸

Although case reports indicate that there can be various and potentially harmful effects of using kratom with other substances, more research is needed to clarify these effects and the connection between kratom and overdose.³

Treatment for Veterans at American Addiction Centers

If you’re a Veteran struggling with kratom use, or you know someone who is, you should know that help is available. Please contact American Addiction Centers at to learn more about your rehab options. You can also learn about paying for rehab, types of rehab, Veteran rehab facilities, how to start the admissions process, and insurance coverage for rehab. Get started on your recovery right now by utilizing our secure online form below to have your insurance verified within minutes.