I’ve been banned from Kratom...
I started taking kratom last June when I read about its effects on fighting anxiety and that it could possibly even help with my diagnosed chronic fatigue. I started taking the white and simply could not believe how well it seemed to be a cure all for me. For the first time since I can remember, before I even graduated high school, I felt ‘normal’... I am 36 now. I was completing tasks and functioning like responsible adult. I didn’t yawn my way through each and everyday. No need for prescription medication anymore! All of a sudden one day my probation officer asks me if I take kratom. I obviously told him that I do because it certainly isn’t against any terms that I take a supplement for my health. Apparently they were changing the terms of my probation, after sending me to jail, and I needed to seek prescriptions from a practitioner for any health ailments. I simply cannot believe it. After trying prescription after prescription, nothing can fight my symptoms like kratom did. I wish they would just hurry up and regulate it so I at least have a case to argue with the government.
@jason-day I certainly understand your frustrations. And if they would take time to read scientific evidence and studies, this would not be happening. That's why it continues to be one of AKAs biggest missions is education. We all have a huge roll to play by spreading the truth. A lot of it is also big pharma, money and greed to dismiss kratom. I feel confident that we will one day, look back on these days, years of fighting proudly. And I am hopeful that the choice to utilize kratom freely will help millions more.
@jason-day I definitely feel your pain on this situation I too had to deal with this. I'm from a little Backwater County in Ohio they would not allow any type of pain medication whatsoever and I'm talking about prescribed medication from the doctor. I had shoulder replacement surgery and they allowed Percocet 5 for 3 days and 3 days only their motto is we don't care we don't have to and they don't. They wouldn't allow Suboxone treatment for people that were going through bad detox it was like they were setting you up to fail. It was rough but I'm the one that screwed up and got put on probation right hell you couldn't even have a beer there drug panel could detect that for up to three days but for me it wasn't all doom and gloom their urine test did not check for kratom they didn't ask and I didn't tell for they would have shut me down if they knew so yes Kratom saved my butt going through those rough times and it has overall improve my life, quality of life that is. I feel it is way better than opied pain medication it works and I feel better clear across the board. I wish you well Jason hope things start getting better for you they will hang in there take care!
I am really sorry to hear about this! There are other things like Ashwaganda, tumeric, Incarvilla Sinensis, Akaumma Seed.. but you may be limited on all, aren't you?
Jason, check round and find some “medical practitioners” in your state. Read reviews for them and try to get a feel for them. Once you have a short list, try communicating with them about “alternative medicine”. If you find one that seems open minded, arm yourself with some materials, including science and studies and reports from the AKA website and visit the practitioner with all the info. Explain your situation, and ask if the practitioner will recommend, or prescribe Kratom to treat you. I have recently started educating an MD here in Texas who does use many alternative therapies including CBD for his patients and is open to learning about Kratom. (Amazing he is from Vietnam but never herd of Kratom)! He is a product of mainstream medical schools. It may not happen fast, but I’ll bet there is someone out there. Even if they are a long drive, once you meet them, they are allowed to do long distance consults via FaceTime, or other online meetings. Best wishes nd luck.
last edited by chuckwagon
Do they even test for kratom? How would they know you're using it?
@naterko There is a specific blood test they can do and many Pain Docs r screening for it too sadly. When i would see my Pain Doc monthly, i was treated awfully, like a drug seeker abd had to do a 28 panel drug test monthly.
@jason-day So very sorry to hear that. I can only imagine how sad and disheartening that must be for you. Hugs and prayers my friend. Keep fighting! As others have suggested maybe try to find a kratom friendly doc in ur state.
@naterko said in [I’ve been banned from Kratom\.\.\.](/post/2712): > Do they even test for kratom? How would they know you're using it? Yes, some UDS (Urine Drug Screen) panels now include Mitragynine, Nat.
last edited by Twisted
@kimberly-rush Unfortunately, there are now UDS (Urine Drug Screen) panels that include Mitragynine as well. It is not limited to a specific blood test anymore.
Thank you all for your responses. It’s a tough situation. I was told that it is no different than bath salts in court. I’m not really sure what bath salts are like but from what I’ve read online, that would be an apples to oranges comparison.
Yep, that’s understandable. Kratom has an image problem to overcome. One of the good things about it are also it’s Achilles heel, in that it is so relatively inexpensive and not something drug companies can make money from- so it is often sold In places “bath salts, an hash pipes were”. This is what we must work to overcome. AKA has a lot of great info, almost too much in fact- for a novice to use to educate the medical and legal community, but you must try. I have long time friends who are surgeons, and judges among others. They put their pants on just like you and me. If approached properly, they can be educated. It’s a slow process, and more difficult when the person offering the information is viewed as already dependent or “addicted”, as was pointed out in the interview in Leaf of Faith movie. Are you represented in court by an attorney? If so, get him up to speed on Kratom with the info downloaded from AkA. If not, try your probation officer. They are often just like our neighbors, doing the job they are told. We should all be taking a little time to advocate. Don’t despair. Use that energy instead to support your rights. What state are you located BTW?
Michigan. A big problem that I keep running into is that most all of the articles that others read is that it’s for opioid withdrawal and not so much about the benefits of treating anxiety/depression and so on.
That’s actually not so bad really. At least it’s in positive light, rather than something like “Kratom kills”. If you live in or near a smaller town with a liberal newspaper editorial policy- write a letter to the editor for publishing. Every little bit helps. Just be brief, upbeat and about how it has helped you personally. The lastly how it’s being unfairly vilified by people who don’t have scientific facts. You might also mention the movie “Leaf of Faith”.
last edited by chuckwagon
https://www.redwoodtoxicology.com/docs/services/Kratom_Sellsheet_3502.pdf
Lol. Typical hysteria from a company selling their product. Notice they footnote a 6 year old DEA “report”, that mentions Thai studies, without a link or footnote of the actual study. Also note, Thailand has since decriminalized Kratom. There have been numerous legitimate studies since this “report” by DEA exonerating Kratom. Fear sells... and this lab is selling hard. This is the unseemly financial side of most every “ban” in existence. Follow the real science.
@jason-day Yes, Redwood Toxicology Lab was the first prominent lab to run Mitragynine testing. For awhile most of the other labs sent their specimens to Redwood if they wanted to test for Mitra & this is why the Mitra test was considerably more expensive. Now, with the addition of Mitra to several of the UDS panels, the testing for it is not nearly as expensive plus it can be run quickly by any Tox lab.
Interesting that the Redwood brochure states, "Withdrawal symptoms of Kratom include hostility, aggression, emotional liability, wet nose, achy muscles and bones, and jerky movement of the limbs." Ummm.... If they used a proofreader or knew anything about psychology, the term is "emotional LABILITY," not "emotional liability."