Is Kratom Addictive?

Yes, kratom can be addictive. Regular use can lead to dependence, so stopping brings withdrawal, and some people develop kratom use disorder. Not everyone who uses kratom becomes addicted, but the risk is higher with regular use and with concentrated 7-OH products.

Dependence vs addiction

Dependence means your body has adjusted to kratom. When you stop, you feel withdrawal. Stopping regular use may cause mild to moderate withdrawal, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Our guide to kratom withdrawal covers the symptoms and how long they last.

Addiction is different. It means you keep using kratom even when it causes problems, and you find it hard to cut back. Doctors call this kratom use disorder. You can be dependent without being addicted, but the two often go together.

Kratom's main compounds, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), act on the same receptors in the brain as opioids. That is part of why regular use can lead to dependence. To learn how kratom works and why it isn't FDA-approved for any use, see What is kratom?

Who's at higher risk

• People who use kratom regularly. In a Malaysian survey from 2014, over half of those who used kratom regularly had severe dependence.

• People who use more, or for longer. Higher doses and longer use make dependence more likely, and withdrawal can last longer and feel harder.

• People who use 7-OH products. These have 7-OH added or concentrated, so they aren't the same as kratom leaf. The FDA calls 7-OH a potent opioid that causes dependence and withdrawal like other opioids.

• People using kratom to get through opioid withdrawal. Kratom isn't approved for this, and using it this way can lead to kratom dependence.

Signs to watch for

• You use more kratom, or use it more often, than you planned.

• You've tried to cut back and couldn't.

• You need more to feel the same effect.

• You feel unwell without it: muscle aches, trouble sleeping, a runny nose, restlessness or irritability.

• Kratom is getting in the way of work, money or the people close to you.

If a few of these sound familiar, it's worth talking to a licensed doctor. You don't have to wait until things get worse.

Getting help

If you want to cut back or stop, work with a licensed doctor on a plan rather than stopping on your own.

• SAMHSA's National Helpline: call 1-800-662-4357. It's free and confidential, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and gives referrals to treatment and support groups.

• Thoughts of harming yourself: call or text 988.

• Someone is unresponsive or not breathing: call 911.

• Possible poisoning: call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, or 911.

Doctronic doesn't treat addiction and doesn't offer detox. You can ask Doctronic's medical AI about kratom for free, or see a licensed doctor by video for $39. The doctor can help with symptoms, and the visit can lead to a referral to addiction care.