Addictive behaviors are not restricted to illegal or illicit substances. When you become consumed by an addiction, those thought patterns bleed into other areas of life. Indulging in sweets, excessive media consumption, and even excessive herbal product usage can become a problem for the person struggling with addictive behaviors. So, when a recovering addict uses Kratom there is cause for concern, leading to the question, “Is Kratom a legal high or helpful for recovering addicts?”
To answer this question for yourself, you need to understand what Kratom is and how the drug is used as a “recovery aid”.
What Is Kratom?
Kratom is the street name for the leaves of the Mitraygyna Speciosa tree which grows in Southeast Asia. These leaves contain psychoactive opioid compounds.They are turned into green powder, herbal capsules, teas, and cigarettes. Sometimes the leaves are turning into an extract and added to gums and beverages.
Kratom is a drug and is used to lift mood, relieve pain, and as an aphrodisiac. Recovering addicts have used the drug as a recovery aid to control withdrawal symptoms from other opioids and alcohol.
Why Use Kratom As A Recovery Aid?
Users of Kratom suggest it helps in recovery because of the positive properties of the drug. In small doses the leaves are a stimulant much like coffee and tea. But the focus and clarity achieved with Kratom does not come with the jitters commonly caused by coffee. Instead, users feel more attentive and find concentration easier to achieve.
Along with boosting mood and making one more sociable, the drug also helps users relax and sleep better. Users of Kratom say it’s not a legal high but ahelpful tool for recovering from addictions to opioids and alcohol. The drug helps reduce withdrawal symptoms and reduces pain without other addictive prescription pain medicines.
Often those who have abused drugs suffer from sexual dysfunction. Users of Kratom say this problem is also relieved by low doses along with weight issues.
The positive effects of Kratom use seem to be valuable. But these testimonies don’t consider the negative side effects of using too much of the drug. Using an opioid like Kratom for someone who struggles with addictive behaviors is a great risk for overdose or misuse.
Potential Side Effects Of Kratom Use
Kratom use can produce negative side effects too. Along with physical discomfort, the drug can cause delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, and psychotic episodes. Users can become dependent on the drug and suffer withdrawal symptoms too, like the withdrawal symptoms cause by opioids and alcohol.
Since the drug can produce the same symptoms of illegal and illicit drug use, should you consider Kratom a legal high or helpful for recovering addicts? Perhaps you should consider all replacement drugs before answering this question.
What Are Replacement Drugs?
Replacement drugs are medications used to ease the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms for someone who has chosen to get sober. They are intended for temporary use, only to ease the physical and mental stress of detox. Once detox is achieved, replacement drugs are tapered off until the user is drug-free.
The problem many recovery advocates have with replacement drugs is they can be addictive too, causing a repeat of the original addiction cycle. Along with being addictive, they are highly dangerous when used by someone with a history of relapse.
Replacement drugs like Vivitrol can be fatal if combined with other opioids or opiates. Vivitrol is a once-a-month injection to relieve cravings and withdrawal symptoms. But the long duration of the drug is offset by reduced tolerance to opioids. So, one slip can mean death for the user of the drug.
Even herbal drugs like Kratom can be fatal when combined with other drugs. Commercial preparation of the drug has resulted in fatal combinations of chemicals. Like any other street drug, you can never be sure of what you are getting in the drug.
Should A Recovering Addict Use Replacement Drugs?
This is an age-old question that will not be settled any time soon. Only you and your doctor or recovery team can decide if replacement drugs are right for you. Each person is different and has different support needs to recover fully.
But the goal of recovery is to get drug free by changing the thought patterns associated with substance abuse. Without therapy to discover those thought patterns any drug use is dangerous and can become addictive.
Bottom Line: Is Kratom A Legal High Or Helpful For Recovering Addicts?
Again, the goal of recovery is to be substance-free. Any substance that alters your mood should be avoided. But, only you and your recovery team can decide if Kratom can help in the short-term to reduce withdrawal symptoms.
Many people struggling through withdrawal have found relief by tapering off the illicit drug using Methadone or Suboxone. These are temporary replacement drugs while the body detoxes. If you want to use Kratom as a more natural replacement drug, speak to your doctor or recovery team. Don’t buy the drug off the internet or self-medicate. Speak to your team for accountability and safety during detox.
If you use a replacement drug and struggle with the same addictive behaviors, please seek help at once.
Need Help To Get Off Replacement Drugs?
Replacement drugs are a step ladder of safety for the recovering addict. They are an easier way to step back on the ground of a sober reality. Unfortunately, many people who struggle with addictive behaviors self-medicate with replacement drugs and eventually get back into an addictive state.
Only you and your recovery team can answer the question of Kratom, a legal high or helpful for recovering addicts. But if you use Kratom and find yourself back in a cycle of addiction, call for help. Aion Recovery in Southern Florida can help you detox and find lasting sobriety through addiction therapy.
Call Aion Recovery at 888-811-2879. Addiction specialists are waiting to help you find lasting sobriety.
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