Key Points to Know
- Kratom is a drug that many people use recreationally as well as to manage pain, anxiety, and opioid withdrawal symptoms.
- While it is derived from a tree and often marketed as “natural,” kratom carries significant risks – including addiction, physical harm, and even overdose – that are still not fully understood.
- Help is available. If you or someone you know needs support with kratom addiction, call or text 988, or reach out to WellPower: (303) 504-7700.
Walk into a gas station, vape shop, or supplement store and you may see products labeled “kratom” sitting on shelves next to energy drinks and vitamins. Because it’s legal in many places and marketed as a natural product, many people assume it’s harmless.
But healthcare and addiction clinicians across the country are seeing a different side of the story.
To separate fact from fiction, we asked experts to help debunk some of the most common myths about kratom.
What is Kratom?
Kratom is a substance that comes from a tree native to Southeast Asia. Some people use it for pain management, others to handle anxiety or increase their energy, and some to manage symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Many people are simply curious after seeing it advertised online or sold locally. Yet despite its growing visibility, many people know very little about what kratom actually is or the risks that can come with using it.
Myth #1: Kratom Is Just an Herbal Supplement
Because kratom comes from a plant, many people think of it as being similar to a vitamin, tea, or other wellness product.
The reality is more complicated.
Kratom contains naturally occurring compounds that interact with opioid receptors in the brain. Depending on the dose, users may experience stimulant-like effects, opioid-like effects, or both. While it is often sold alongside supplements, its effects on the body are very different from most products people typically associate with health and wellness.
“Unlike most over the counter supplements, kratom has stimulant and opioid affects, so it can cause dependence and withdrawal,” said Daralyn Morgenson, PharmD, BCPP, clinical pharmacist at WellPower.
Key takeaway: Just because something is sold as a supplement doesn’t mean it acts like one.
Myth #2: Natural Means Safe
One of the most persistent myths surrounding kratom is that natural products are automatically safer than manufactured medications.
Unfortunately, that’s not how safety works.
Many dangerous substances occur naturally. Tobacco is natural. Poison ivy is natural. Opium comes from a plant. The fact that something grows in nature tells us very little about whether it is safe to consume.
Like many substances, kratom can affect people differently depending on the dose, their health history, what other medications they take, and the specific product they use.
“Kratom can be just as dangerous as other opioids depending on the dose, purity, and each person’s individual tolerance,” said Jud Felder, BA, CPFS, CPRP, peer specialist II at WellPower’s medication assisted treatment (MAT) clinic. “One must also consider what other medications they are on and how they interact with kratom.”
Key takeaway: The safest approach is to evaluate any substance based on evidence and known risks, not marketing claims.
Myth #3: You Can’t Become Addicted to Kratom
Many people are surprised to learn that dependence can occur with kratom use.
Some individuals who regularly use kratom report experiencing withdrawal symptoms when they stop, including anxiety, irritability, insomnia, muscle aches, and cravings. For some, these symptoms can make quitting difficult without support.
In treatment settings, providers are increasingly encountering people who want help reducing or stopping kratom use after realizing it has become harder to quit than expected.
“Kratom is addictive because we have seen first-hand people asking for help getting off it,” Felder said. “The withdrawal from kratom is similar to opioid withdrawal and can be dangerous without medical supervision.”
Key takeaway: Dependence does not happen to everyone who uses kratom, but it is a risk that many people never hear about until they experience it themselves.
Myth #4: Kratom Is a Safe Way to Treat Opioid Addiction on Your Own
Some people use kratom as a self-directed strategy to reduce opioid use or manage withdrawal symptoms.
This often comes from a very real desire to get better.
However, replacing one substance with another without medical support can introduce new challenges and risks. While some people report that kratom helped them reduce opioid use, kratom is not an FDA-approved treatment for opioid use disorder, and experts continue to study both its potential benefits and risks.
“If someone wants to use kratom instead of opioids it’s true that is a form of harm reduction,” said Felder. “But we recommend talking to medical professionals about this choice, so they get all the information and support they need to be successful and safe.”
Key takeaway: Recovery is not a one-size-fits-all journey. If someone is struggling with opioids or another substance, effective treatments and supportive professionals are available to help.
Myth #5: If It’s Sold in a Store, It Must Be Regulated
Many consumers assume that products available for purchase have been carefully tested and standardized.
With kratom, that assumption can be misleading.
The concentration of active compounds can vary significantly between products. Different brands may contain different strengths, ingredients, or additives. Consumers often have limited information about exactly what they are taking or how potent a particular product may be.
“Kratom is not regulated by the FDA, so companies can sell kratom without properly stating the correct amount,” said Morgenson. “There is no way to really know what you are getting.”
This lack of consistency can make it difficult to predict how a product will affect a person.
Key takeaway: A package label doesn’t always tell the whole story.
Myth #6: All Kratom Products Are Basically the Same
Not all kratom products are created equal.
Over time, the marketplace has expanded beyond traditional powdered leaf products to include concentrated extracts, capsules, beverages, gummies, and other formulations. Some products are significantly more potent than others.
For consumers, that can create a false sense of familiarity. Someone who has used one kratom product may assume another product will have similar effects, only to have a very different experience – sometimes with serious consequences.
Felder urges caution: “Kratom can be dangerous if people are not paying attention to the labels and assume that every form or type of Kratom is the same. Please read the labels if you do take Kratom.”
Key takeaway: Kratom potency is not standardized. As with many substances, increased potency often means increased risk.
Myth #7: If Kratom Becomes a Problem, There’s No Help Available
This may be the most important myth of all.
People sometimes feel embarrassed to ask for help with kratom because they assume no one will understand, or they worry that treatment doesn’t exist because kratom isn’t as well-established as opioids and other drugs.
Neither is true.
Substance use professionals – like those at WellPower’s Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) clinic – increasingly recognize kratom-related concerns and can help people who are struggling. Support may include medical evaluation, counseling, recovery support, treatment for withdrawal symptoms, or medications when appropriate.
Most importantly, no one has to figure it out alone.
“There is lots of support and many different ways of getting help that can meet everyone’s needs,” Felder said. “No matter where you are in recovery.”
Key takeaway: Asking for support is not a sign of failure. It’s often the first step toward feeling better. Expert, compassionate support is available.
The Bottom Line About Kratom
Kratom occupies a complicated space in today’s health and wellness landscape. Some people view it as a natural remedy. Others see it as a serious public health concern.
The truth is that there is still a lot we don’t know, and that researchers are actively working to understand.
What we do know is that kratom is not simply a harmless herbal product. It can affect the brain, cause dependence, and create real challenges for some people. At the same time, people who are using kratom or struggling to stop deserve compassion, not judgment.
The good news is that help is available.
Whether someone is concerned about kratom, opioids, alcohol, or another substance, recovery is possible. Every day, people take the first step toward change, and with the right support, many go on to build healthier, more hopeful futures.
No matter where someone is on that journey, they do not have to walk it alone.
How to Get Help with Kratom
WellPower’s Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) clinic offers support with addiction from compassionate experts, including peer specialists like Jud. Give us a call at (303) 504-7700, or come to our walk-in clinic Wednesdays 1-4:30 p.m. at 4455 E. 12th Ave. in Denver – no appointment or insurance needed.
For 24/7/365 urgent support, call, text or chat 988, the Mental Health Lifeline. In Colorado, you can also visit a walk-in center for immediate, in-person help in a crisis. Denver’s walk-in center (operated by WellPower) is at 4353 E. Colfax Ave. Find another Colorado location closest to you here.
Sources and Fact-Checking Note
This article was reviewed for accuracy using information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and interviews with WellPower clinical experts. Research on kratom is ongoing, and scientists continue to study its potential effects, risks, and possible therapeutic uses. Because new evidence continues to emerge, recommendations and understanding may evolve over time.
Key sources include:
- Interviews with WellPower clinicians specializing in substance use treatment and recovery support.
- Mayo Clinic: Kratom: Unsafe and Ineffective?
- American Psychiatric Association (APA): What Is Kratom and Why Is It Raising Concerns?
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): FDA and Kratom
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): Kratom Research Topic
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Increases in Kratom-Related Reports to Poison Centers, United States, 2015-2025
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