Kratom Addiction Treatment

You are not one to ever cave to peer pressure. You have never taken more than a hit of marijuana in your life and rarely even take ibuprofen. You are on vacation and getting dinner in a Florida bar, where you see hot and cold Kratom tea. You remember hearing that it is a stimulant and also contains pain-relieving properties. It is legal and is being marketed simply as an herbal supplement. You order some and are pleasantly surprised at the results. You feel relaxed and are happy to just go with the flow the rest of the right. You are headed home the next day yet decide to stop at that kava bar and order up another order for a quick drink before you get on the plane. You seek it out at home and find that you think about it all the time and are in need of Kratom Addiction treatment.

What exactly is Kratom?

Kratom can be found in the form of a tree that is native to Southeast Asia, Mitragyna speciosa. The leaves and stems are dried and brewed into a tea. It offers stimulant properties at low doses but has sedative and pain-blocking properties at higher doses. It creates a euphoric high in only five to 10 minutes and lasts up to five hours. It can also be found in Florida bars as a tea. It is considered a drug of concern to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration but is not considered a controlled substance; however, four states have banned it due to its questionable properties. Even though it there is not a great deal of clinical research regarding Kratom, there have been a number of beneficial results when it is used, such as:

• Eases symptoms of withdrawal form heroin, morphine, and other opioids.
• Suppresses cough
• eases depression
• Lessens anxiety
• Reduces high blood pressure
• Balances diabetes
• Relieves pain

How can I tell if I need treatment for a Kratom Addiction?

Those who have begun to rely on Kratom for chronic pain relief without realizing, or caring, how dangerous it can be. It works in a similar way to other opioids, such as morphine and heroin. Some of the side effects found with consistent use include:

• A numb tongue and dry mouth
• Nausea and vomiting
• Hallucinations and delusions
• Liver damage
• Thyroid problems
• Seizures
• Withdrawal
• Death

Kratom misuse can cause lethal reactions that include a risk of suicide when used with regular alcohol use and especially in those who have existing mental health issues. They may find that their mental health worsens. It is being used a legal way of getting high, but that does not mean that it is without its own set of problems. It offers psychoactive effects, which can result in dependence and addiction.

Is Kratom addictive enough to warrant treatment?

When the body becomes used to the consumption of a chemical substance, withdrawal symptoms can occur when it is not used. The physical dependence occurs when Kratom acts on the opioid receptors and changes the chemistry of the brain. Withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe and include:

• Lack of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Muscle pain
• Twitching and spastic movements
• Watery eyes
• Anxiety and depression
• Insomnia
• Anger and aggression
• Hot flashes and fever
• Drug cravings
• Inability to feel pleasure without Kratom

What does Kratom Addiction Treatment look like?

Every drug addiction program offers minute differences, but there is a basic process that is followed in the majority of them:

• Detox programs and physical stabilization
  • This can be done inpatient or outpatient, depending on severity of the addiction. This is the elimination of the drug from the system. Sometimes it requires the use of certain medications that were designed specifically to ease withdrawal discomfort and the cravings. Patients may need to be on them long after successfully finishing an addiction program and can acquire them at methadone or suboxone clinics. Detox from Kratom can last between five to seven days. Round the care monitoring is the best idea, since Kratom can harm regions of the brain that are in charge of controlling emotions, decision making, and impulse control.
• Rehabilitation
  • Behavioral psychotherapy in group and individual settings widely used in drug addiction treatment. Detox alone will almost never result in continued sobriety. Inpatient and outpatient drug rehab programs help someone face the demons that may have led to their abuse in the first place, whether it’s anxiety, depression, or a past trauma. Days are full of educational seminars, therapy sessions, meals, sleep, and personal activities. Luxury ones offer more amenities as do holistic ones. Features may include equine therapy, music, art, tai chi, massage, acupuncture, and more.
  • There are different intensities of programs, from patients living at home but attend just as many sessions as those residing there to general outpatient programs with appointments set for a few hours a day on a few days a week. They are more flexible, allowing participants to keep up with their other responsibilities, like families and careers.
  • A variety of therapies are instituted, since each person reacts to therapies differently. The best success will be in those used in combination with each other.
    • CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) – Helps change negative patterns of behavior and thought patterns to positive ones. It also teaches coping skills so that someone can face past traumas.
    • DBT (dialectal behavioral therapy) – helps change the negative thought patterns that someone may hold and is especially helpful in those who need dual diagnosis treatment.
    • Family therapy – Helps reestablish relationships damaged in the process of addiction.
    • Contingency management – Uses reward systems for motivation, such as incentives for actions that include clean urine tests and attendance at counseling sessions.
    • Motivational enhancement (MET) – Gives people goals and lets them find their own reasons behind the need to stay sober.
    • 12-step support groups, like AA (Alcoholics’ Anonymous) and NA (Narcotics’ Anonymous)
• Aftercare and Recovery
  • Having a non-judgmental support system is crucial to preventing relapse. 12-step drug treatment programs allow individuals in recovery to meet with peers who are in similar positions. They can learn from them.  

What is necessary for success in Kratom Addiction Treatment?

Only 40% of the population in a substance abuse treatment facility admitted themselves of their own accord. The others were admitted due to an emergency or legal situation. Three factors are found in those who find success:

• They are determined to involve themselves in treatment
• They actively participate in the activities and therapies,
• They receive intense treatment.
• Their support systems and groups are available and nonjudgmental.

Is relapse a failure or just a step in Kratom recovery?

When people have heard about someone experiencing a relapse, they simply view it as the moment when the addict breaks their sobriety. Someone may have been having a stressful day and had access to their drug of choice. It is actually a part of the process where someone takes a step back. This can be normal in any process of breaking a habit. The addiction can be worse than before because they feel such guilt and remorse from caving to the craving. Instead of feeling shame, learning what to do in this situation will help you stay on the right road.

Getting help immediately, whether you contact your center or find a meeting, is the most essential part of a relapse. You are not alone, but how you handle it says everything in how you will continue your recovery. Interviews state that only 20% of addicts who successfully completed a treatment program stay sober for an entire year. Although the threat of relapse is ever present, the longer someone is sober, the higher the chance they will remain that way. 60% remained sober after two years, and once someone hits the five-year mark, their chances of experiencing relapse are only 15%. Practice is necessary when someone is trying to apply to their life the principles that they learned in therapy, but many recovering addicts prove that it can be done.

Can I afford treatment for Kratom Addiction?

Deciding to seek treatment is a big step, and it can be overwhelming when looking at the variety of programs that are available. One of the most stressful parts of choosing is the cost. Instead of viewing it as taking on more debt, it must be seen as an investment in your future. You will not have a future without it. People inherently want the best for other humans, and that includes helping those who are addicted to drugs receive the most effective treatment possible. When it is not as simple as writing a check, some options of payment include:

• Health insurance - Insurance is one of the most popular ways to pay, with coverage depending on each policy. Types of insurance include:
  • Medicaid
  • Medicare
  • Obamacare, or the ACA (Affordable Care Act) – This is a state-funded health insurance for addiction recovery.
  • Private insurance
  • Military insurance

• Grants
  • SAMSHA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) – Offers a variety of substance abuse information, as well as assistance in paying for recovery programs.
• Sliding scale fees – Affordable monthly payments according to income level. 
• Savings
  • IRAs, 401k plans, or a home’s equity are viable ways to find funds.
• Crowdfunding
  • Sites such as GoFundMe allow friends, family, and community to donate to someone’s rehab. People who are contributing can also make payments directly to the facility to avoid any confusion.

You wonder how you ended up needing treatment for an addiction to a substance that was so easy to obtain. It just goes to show that whether something is all-natural and not even illegal can cause just as much harm as something that costs thousands on the streets. Care must be taken as to what people put in their bodies and an addiction to Kratom is the perfect example. Anyone who would like to regain control of their life before they became dependent on a seemingly harmless substance will find what they need in Kratom Addiction Treatment.