CHARLOTTE — Former user speaks out to inform others about kratom
July 31, 2025 at 5:50 pm EDT
Daniel Carter, 23, said he turned to kratom to break his opioid addiction but instead, it pulled him right back in. Now sober, he and others are warning about the unregulated product found in gas stations and vape shops that is landing people in detox.
“The withdrawal looks a lot like an opioid withdrawal,” said Dr. Logan Adams, the medical director and McLeod Centers for Wellbeing.
He said they’ve seen an uptick in people seeking their centers for treatment for kratom addictions and withdrawals.
The FDA does not support the use of kratom because some studies have found it can cause serious health risks, including seizures, liver toxicity, and substance use disorder.
The FDA action “is not focused on natural kratom leaf products,” according to a statement Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The agency said it was releasing a report to educate about the risks of “7-OH and its distinction from the kratom plant leaf.”
This article was originally written for and by WSOCTV. To read the complete article and view interview, click here.