US Drug Enforcement Administration Plans to put Kratom on Schedule I, but Scientists say This is a bad Decision
In 2011 the US poison control centers received 3.6 MILLION phone calls http://www.aapcc.org/press/11/ which included about ONE HUNDRED concerning Kratom. That is abt SEVEN PHONE CALLS EVERY SECOND – 24/7. It would seem that the Federal alphabet soup of agencies use “scientific fact” or lack of scientific fact to justify their agenda…which every suits the scenario they want. IMO, in this particular incident…it is all about the DEA creating a much larger “black drug market” and causing/forcing many Kratom users to head for the street to try and get something to help with whatever medical issue they were taking Kratom to treat. All the while, the FDA allows homeopathic or supplements to be sold on the market… that have no proven medicinal benefit and the labeling on such products plainly states that the product has not been tested/approved by the FDA as to its ability to treat/cure any disease state.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is planning to put Kratom, a widely used medicinal plant, on its most restrictive classification – the Schedule I.
Kratom is widely used in Southeast Asia because of its medicinal properties. David Kroll, a pharmacologist and medical writer, said that indigenous people have used the drug as a stimulant to increase work output or for relaxation. However, last August, the DEA announced its plan to classify the drug as a Schedule I drug. This is the same category where ecstasy, heroin, marijuana and LSD is placed. The classification is set to take effect by the end of September.
According to the American Kratom Association, the plant contains alkaloids that bind to the same opioid receptors as morphine that is why it can be used to treat pain. In small doses, it can also be used as a mild stimulant that can help alleviate depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and can even addiction.
Ever since the announcement was published in the Federal Register, a community of Kratom users who use the drug as a painkiller have voiced objection to the move. Critics say that the move may hinder research into the potential uses of Kratom as an anesthetic.
Brad Burge, the director of communications and marketing at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), said that “The Schedule I status has historically made it more difficult for researchers to gain access to the compounds.”
Meanwhile, Mitul Mehta, a researcher at King’s College, said that Kratom is a promising target for research because of its uses. But, restricting the research can affect the potential for scientists to discover compounds that could help people who are severely ill.
Despite its medicinal properties, authorities do not consider Kratom to be valuable.
Filed under: General Problems
Kratom can be used safely for a long period of time sporadically. This is something to keep in mind, as you want to make sure that you’re using the Kratom safely but also that you’re not building a dependency or a tolerance to it. Using the Kratom in higher doses every day can cause this to happen. This is a misuse of the product, which then leads to the addiction.
Look no further than big pharma the dea is ran by them.
I am really thankful to Kratom for helping me to come out of the pain that I was suffering from the past few years. I was hooked on OxyContin then heroin and then I tried suboxone and methadone but they were hell to come off. After that, I found out about kratom and I used it to get off the maintenance therapy. Really helpful product!!
Kratom protest song “Heal yourself” – Listen! AND SHARE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jijb5E1XnVc
I am a 63 year old disabled man with conditions that cause chronic pain.I have used kratom tea for three years now.It has enabled me yo cut down to minimal doses the dr.prescibed pain meds.Without kratom i would need to take higher doses of the pain med.,but due again to the dea causing so much doctor paranoia,they will most likely not increase dosage.I would much rather the kratom tea,it works better than the meds.and really has little to no side effects,and has given me some quality to my life.If thiscban happens it will cause much suffering in my life and millions of others.If this ban happens,I must think the declaration of independence is now meaningless in America,and the will of the people is a joke! They want to reduce opioid use,so they ban a natural safe herb that helps to reduce opioid use.That is counterproductive,senseless,and wrong.Theccenter for regulatory effectiveness told the dea thay are violating proper and lawful procedure,as well as violating international rules with Canada.Who has given those people godlike power so they can do whatever they want and violate laws themselves.And why is there no one in DC that can just tell them no.My country makes no sense to me anymore,andcthus foolish drug war is violating our constitutional rights,but no onr in powef seems to care,not even Obama has done anything too stop it.Glad im old and will be dead soon,cause I barely recognize my country anymore.
Kratom saved our son from heroin addiction. In turn, kratom saved our family. We are frightened that our son may turn back to heroin if he can’t drink kratom! Kratom has turned our son in to a fuctioning member of society! Please save kratom!
Kratom has saved so many peoples lives. This plant continues to save lives today. Why do they want to make it a schedule one? Maybe because it’s interfering with pharmaceutical sales. Look at the road that marijuana has had to take just a breach medicinal status in several states. Kratom is virtually harmless. Your body has a natural reaction to throw it up if you take too much. Can you say the same thing about OxyContin
#IAmKratom
#KratomSavesLives
I depend on kratom to help me get up in the morning and be ready for work. Only reason that I am able to keep my full time job as a Senior Applications Engineer is kratom. Opioids made me nauseous, drowsy brain fog and gave me horrible skin rashes that hurt with burning sensations. I definitely cannot go back to opiods. Kratom does not have those side effects. In fact it gives me energy, focus, and helps manage with my 24/7 pain from multiple chronic illnesses such that I can code, spend quality time with my family and friends and take care of myself. Without kratom, not only would I lose my job, it will negatively affect my marriage and my kids will lose their mom again to chronic illnesses and side effects from opioids and SSRIs. Please do not ban kratom. It is my life saver and losing my job will be a huge financial impact on my family and life. We will be forced to sell our current home to downsize. My daughter is a Principal Honor Roll student and she just started her freshman year in HS at a great school where she is in an IT/STEM program. Moving is not an option for it will disrupt her education and grades. These are just a few examples of how my life can be ruined. My depression and anxiety will get worse as I am not surprised with these negative life disruptions. Please save kratom!
#IAmKratom #SaveKratom
I’m a 50 yr old disabled male that has been using kratom tea safely and effectively for over 6 years to treat my severe chronic pain from bone disease, rheumatoid/psoriatic arthritis, and ocular migraines caused by eye disease. In 2007 I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Later in 2008, I was diagnosed with avascular necrosis in my left hip. More severe, often unbearable, chronic pain to deal with. So, in Feb. 2009, I had a core decompression, bone graft, and titanium implant surgery on my left hip. Most excrutiatingly painful thing I’ve ever experienced in my life. Walking(limping with the assistance of my trusty cane) would never be the same again. The rheumatoid arthritis seemed to have kicked into high gear after this surgery. Flare-ups were worse than any worst case of flu one could imagine having. The bad flare-ups still are. On top of all this, I still have to deal with eye disease and ocular migraines. I was born with macular dystrophy. In 2001, I began having problems seeing, so I got a referral to a retinal specialist. Lattice degeneration was added to my list. As the years progressed, retinal holes had to be lasered closed, a diagnosis of Pseudo Foster-Kennedy Syndrome was added to my list, and then in May 2015 I had an optic nerve stroke(Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION)) in my right eye, leaving me legally blind in that eye. The debilitating migraines I get some days are also unbearable at times. But, chronic pain is now my life, so I had no choice but to accept it. The doctors prescribed medicines that I hated the way that they made me feel(not myself), and the side effects of these medications that were supposed to be helping me soon outweighed any supposed benefits. I decided to take it upon myself to start researching Native American and Asian culture natural plant based/herbal medicines. It was my studies of southeast Asian cultural traditional medicine that led me to the Kratom plant. I soon discovered that the powdered leaf of this plant did wonders for my way of life, especially dealing with the constant chronic pain. No negative side effects … ever … and my chronic pain was bearable to where I could function at least somewhat normally(considering my limited mobility ability). I also noticed that I wasn’t having near the rheumatoid arthritis complications/flare-ups as when I was taking the doctor prescribed pharmaceuticals. Inflammation seemed to be kept in check, too. The kratom plant has helped me a lot, safely and effectively, in the 6 years that I have been using it. When the DEA announced its letter of intent to ban this medicinal plant leaf as a Schedule 1 substance on August 31, 2016, I was devastated. Panic, sadness/depression, and soon anger began to set in. Another freedom was being taken away at the hands of government overreach. I’m left questioning whether or not this is still America I’m living in, land of the free. I thought that I have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I’m not a criminal. I don’t drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. I’m a responsible 50 year old law abiding adult. The fact that I’m treating my health with medicinal plants is a threat to whom? No harm, no foul. I’m not doing anything to anyone else, or their property, by using kratom. I’m living my life the best way I can. Now the DEA is going to make me a felon for using the natural medicinal leaf of a plant that’s been safely used for centuries? IS this still America that we live in? How are we, people suffering from chronic pain, a threat or “imminent hazard” to anyone else? As far as my experience, the only threat from my use of kratom leaf as a tea is the threat to my chronic pain. Again, I say … No harm, no foul. I’m a 50 year old responsible American citizen who doesn’t drink alcohol(which is legal and lethal, and kills people every day), I don’t do/abuse legal opioid/opiate pain pills(which kills people every day), I don’t do/abuse illegal/illicit drugs(which kills people every day), and I have the right as an American citizen to treat my health and well being with natural, non-lethal, medicinal plants as I see fit. I’m not a criminal. I’m living my life of chronic pain the best way that I can to survive. I don’t need the government or its agencies dictating to me how to take care of my own personal health. They are not my boss. They do not own me. As long as I am doing no harm to myself, as long as I am doing no harm to anyone else or their property, LEAVE ME and my non-lethal medicinal plants ALONE. Isn’t it ironic enough how the non-lethal, natural medicinal plants are NOT the problem causing deaths in this country and are what’s banned/illegal, and the lethal man-made chemicals/drugs(alcohol included) ARE the problem causing deaths in this country. Anyone see a trend here? In my opinion, the non-lethal, natural medicinal plants are part of the solution to the drug problems/epidemic plaguing this country. It’s time that people realize that, especially the DEA and FDA.
It’s not just a premature classification of a harmless plant as being a danger, it is about my right to choose what form of treatment I WANT. The DEA is, in essence, telling me that if I want relief from my chronic pain, I HAVE TO take the chemicals that big pharma is profiting from. This decision has nothing to do with the care and welfare of the people, but pressure from the lobbyists to continue to jam the pockets of big pharma. Not only is the DEA destroying thousands of lives with this proposed ban, but they are condemning their OWN families and CHILDREN to the same devastating chemical laden lives. How can you sleep at night?
I use Kratom for pain management and PTSD. I was able to quit 4 medications on this mild supplement.
I think the DEA is a corrupt system with big pharma in its back pocket!
Wake up America!
I am a mom of four wonderful boys who suffers from many ailments. I am a cervical cancer survivor, to start, for the second time at the expense of a DaVinci hysterectomy surgery. That robot, caused me more lasting issues five years later that I’m still in pain from the five small incisions it made – 5 incisions my doctor tried to convince me that my body could feel “no pain” pain from because “if you have an incision under X centimeters, your body doesn’t recognize it, so you won’t feel pain from it” – my husband and I were astounded, as well as the many doctors I have seen and told the story to since. But that is only 1 of my over 15 surgeries, all but 3 of those were done in my abdomen and chest. I suffer constant pain from scar tissue and nerve damage even from the less “intrusive” surgeries. I was a burn victim as a child, a gasoline accident that landed me in the burn unit for six weeks and 3 surgeries, including a large skin great from my upper leg (burn is half way up my right calf, and down covering my foot completely) and I had 2 debreedment surgeries to remove dead tissue, which left me with lasting trauma to the worst of my leg and foot, not to mention the PTSD, anxiety, and depression I have endured over the years. Ignoring my time in the burn unit (I spent my 14th birthday recovering from my final surgery, the nurses were so wonderful to me on my birthday!) I was on a lot of medication – 14mg of morphine IV every hour, along with an extra 10mg every dressing change or “tank” visit, with 2mg of xanax for each of those too. No wonder after the pills were gone when I was released that I went through withdrawal, something I had no idea about or how to handle… Didn’t even know that’s what had happened when I stopped I was such a sick little girl 🙁 but that, is where I believe my addiction started, something I didn’t even realize until a soul-searching night in my sadness and surprise after the DEA announced its plans to van Kratom, the plant that has been a literal miracle for me. I went through many procedures and tests and appointments, though over the years it turned into health issues like my cancer or the arthritis, bursitis, and tendonitis I gained over time due to my sciences as a dancer and gymnast. But I was able to cope and continue my gymnastics, and the doctor said these pills would help… years later, I’m in pain management and lost my insurance. I wad so busy with so many things, it didn’t cross my mind again until it wad too late and my medications were almost out, so I started borrowing from a friend our buying from someone… well, they became to expensive and I had found that heroin not only felt better, it was cheaper, and helped my pain just as much as the pills did. So I went down hill. Lost my car, house, and lived out of a motel room before I decided enough was enough. I went to the methadone clinic for years, doing everything to the letter, really trying to get better – when we had found out we needed to move far away from anywhere near a clinic, let alone one that work work with me and my new travel situation. I was more stock than I’ve ever been, for the longest in my life. Doctors were unsympathetic to my severe withdrawal, I had to beg one to please write whatever he has to on paper, just give me some clonodine and valium to get me through the worst. Even after I had coerced him (why did I need to, can anyone tell me? I was so sick I could hardly hold myself up and stop shaking for two seconds!) He gave me the lowest doses he could manage, and they did nothing for the 26 days-long hell I somehow survived. An hour of sleep a night at best for 13 days, I was hallucinating, unable to hold up even my head on my own by the time the first two weeks are over. Finally it was over and I was almost thankful for the PAWS and several months of three hours of sleep a night, not to mention the cravings. When I was diagnosed with cancer, I had to go back to those same addictive medications I started with when I left the burn unit years before a a kid. Thankfully, the methadone withdrawal taught me a lesson and shy of some cravings for heroin, I never craved or misused my pain medications… never had that “want” like with heroin, and that want never went away, it was always on my mind. And then I found kratom while searching for alternatives. My husband didn’t want to get hopeful and didn’t want me to try it, but I talked his sister into helping me and well… The results were almost immediate! With the arthritis in my upper back, I hadn’t sat up straight our turned my neck dive well before my heroin addiction, so when I literally looked up ten minutes after trying kratom, stood up straight, and cracked my own neck for the first time since I could remember, all in front of my in laws (on a family visit for holidays) their jaws literally dropped. I had been hunched over like an old lady, even on the strongest of medication, so to see this I could imagine their surprise, since I was astounded myself. Ten minutes later and I picked up my toddler and spun him around for the first tinge side he wad about 6 months old, he was just so heavy it hurt to even lift him, but not with kratom. That was the beginning of my new life. No more heroin cravings, no need for constant medication for pain or anxiety or sleep. I was able to work again, cook and clean, okay with my children, something my older boys had missed out on most times because of my constant pain. If I can’t stand up straight, how can I play baseball with my kids?! My new life with Kratom started about four years ago, and I have never looked back. Even turning to other herbs to manage my pain, anxiety, insomnia, and anti-inflammatory herbs, I’m truly allergic to nsaid drugs because of my asthma, they stop my breathing so it was either steroids like prednisone or nothing for me as far as pain treatments, so remedies like turmeric and gin soaked raisins have also been a lifesaver for my joint pain, which is absolutely terrible… And I have discovered things like red clover to replace my estrogen therapy with less side effects of my menopause… Mind you I’m only 28. Kratom had also helped my immune system, I was always the sick kid in the family, always on something for something and anything, but I have my life back and my freedom to choose not to take those drugs because of Kratom. I don’t know what will happen if we lose this plant because the DEA “says so”. I’m suspecting that many of us will return to narcotic drugs in one form or another for our relief, and that many others will suffer because they refuse to be fed poison by their pharmaceutical companies. Not to mention all the stress the DEA has caused millions over this, which in site exaggerates their symptoms further, forcing them to suffer before the ban is even in place. I’m quite frankly disgusted by the DEA’s decision to ban kratom, and I truly hour for my community’s sake that congress can help us stop this! Please continue to contact your reps and ask that they support the Pocan/Salmon Bipartisan Dear Colleague Letter to intervene in the DEA’s decision to ban kratom, an all natural tea leaf that had been used for centuries. #IAmKratom #SaveKratom
My name is Christeen. I am 28 years old and a mother of 3 kids and 1 angel. In 2005 I met the love of my life it was love at first site. A year later we had our first child she was beautiful and so perfect. I was the happiest girl alive and I couldn’t ask for more and then few months later we found out we were pregnant again. I was so so happy and even more happy when we found out we were having a little boy. We were so happy after him we would be complete with one girl one boy and us happily married the perfect family. We of course wanted him to have the perfect name and we did his name was Cole Nicholaus Bramlett…it was perfect. I did everything I was suppose to do as a pregnant woman should. We started his room it was gonna be light blue and dark blue walls, we had picked out the perfect crib set although he was gonna sleep in our room for first few months we had his room perfect for when it was time to move him. We had the bassinet, diapers and everything ready. I told him all about it and read to him while he was in my tummy and he would kick like he couldn’t wait to get out and he just knew he was loved so much. At 32 weeks I had my appointment for just a check up on things and ultra sound and the Dr. Told me everything was perfect he was growing like he should be he heartbeat was perfect and was just a couple more weeks and I will get to meet our perfect handsome son. On Saturday July 7th 2007 I woke up and went downstairs ate breakfast, took shower and went on with my day around 4 that afternoon I noticed he wasn’t moving like he usually does. So I knew if I read to him he would get excited and move I read to him for hours and nothing. I called my Dr. And he said to be safe come on in to hospital and we will check everything out. So we got dressed and headed up there and I started to feel empty, I felt something was terribly wrong we got there and I was right somehow our perfect baby boy’s heart stopped and sometime threw out the day he had passed away I didn’t want to believe it, I told them they were lyong and to check again and they did and I just sat there for seemed like forever as tears rolled out of my eyes silent. After hours of silence the Dr. Came in and said that they need to force me into labor so he can come out. I went threw 36 hours of labor to deliver my son that I will not get to see grow up. He won’t get to see how much he is loved and or how perfect we made his room for him. I will never here the words mommy or I love you from him. He will never get to meet his beautiful big sister who was so ready to have a little brother to play with. My husband won’t have his perfect little boy to take fishing or teach how to play baseball. We did everything right made everything perfect and we can’t take our sweet boy home instead we will be burying him. That day changed me it put a hole in me and I was empty, When my husband got me home I went straight to my bedroom where his bassinet was and yet no baby boy to put it in and laid in my bed for days starring at that empty cold bassinet. Each day I grew more and more depressed and disconnected from the world, my husband my daughter not only lost their son and brother but was losing their wife and mommy to. For years the Doctor’s put me on this pill that pill and all it did was either make me more distant then before or cause horrible side effects even to the point of one medication Ambien that caused me to have suicide thoughts and I was almost successful but my husband stuck his hands down my throat called 911 and I was rushed to the emergency room. I was there for a 48 hour reservation. Then they sent me back home and my husband had been doing research all this time and every online remedy to help wasn’t a help at all. Not until he found Kratom by then I was ready to give up and the Kratom sat on our bar for about 3 weeks before I caved and gave it a try and so it saved me it gave me mi life back little by little each day. I would drink a tea in the Morning and I noticed I was out of the bed playing with my daughter and getting up taking care of things that a normal person would. I was able to get up and smile and laugh and be a mommy again. I was being me again but a better me. I started seeing life again and it wasn’t for all the prescription drugs the dr gave me, it was because when I was at my lowest God showed my husband what I needed and it was Kratom. I have no bad side effects of Kratom if me being able to get up out of bed with no pain and to be able to be a good mom again or even better then before is a side effect to Kratom then I am happy to have them. Since Kratom I have been blessed with another perfect baby boy not to replace my loss but to help fill the emptiness inside of me and then 2 years later was blessed with another baby girl.Kratom saved me and it has helped me so much over the years. I can get out of bed in the morning to get my kids ready for school and I can go on field trips and eat lunch with them at school.can get out of bed in the morning to get my kids ready for school and I can go on field trips and eat lunch with them at school. I can go to baseball and softball games and watch my kids play and grow. I can go to dance recitals, help with late night projects and be room mom to my kids classes. I am a better and I am healing each day more and more with Kratom. I am Kratom for me, I deserve to feel alive, to be happy, to be a good caring person. My kids never go without their needs, we don’t spend all our money on Kratom. You don’t lose control on Kratom, you don’t do crazy things on it either. When we take Kratom we are taking it so we can have a normal life and by that I mean simple things like just to get out of bed in the morning. To not go all day in horrible pain and to be the best possible person we can be for ourselves, our families, our community. #Iamkratom #Kratomsavedme #prayingforkratom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNc3AbuaYaY
#iamkratom I’m 35 years old and have been on pain killers the majority of my life. I found kratom a little over 2yrs ago and I get more relief from it and cbd than any of the poisons pushed down my throat by Dr’s. Unlike pain medication I don’t wd when I run out of kratom. 30 days after kratom is banned (if it is) I believe my life will be a painful hell because I refuse to go back to pharmaceuticals
Kratom has allowed me to stop taking two RX medications. They both (the meds) cause huge amount of side effects. With Kratom, the only side effects I have are positive ones, such as focus and sense of well being. There is no high, unlike my other prescriptions, and it is not a good party drug. I am able to be a productive society member, mother, business owner and volunteer soccer coach. I do NOT deserve to be a criminal because I drink tea!
September 23rd would have been my 16th wedding anniversary.
I lost my wife to addiction.
She got hooked on oxycontin. She was receiving chemo while pregnant with my daughter. The chemo lowered her resistance and she got infected with mrsa which went into her hip and spine.
Long story short she was put on oxycontin which was supposed to last 12 hours. It lasted 7 tops. Long story short they started reducing her from 320 mg a day plus breakthrough meds.
She started drinking on top of the pain meds to control the pain. She was also taking Percocet and Tylenol. So double doses of Tylenol.
She wound up dying of liver failure at 36 years old.
I was heading down the same route until I found Kratom.
If my wife found Kratom she might still be alive.
This is the reason I fight so hard. This is the reason I haven’t slept more than 3 hours at av time.
Keeping Kratom legal isn’t going to bring her back.
But if keeping Kratom legal saves even one life then it was worth every second of lost sleep.
Happy Anniversary babe.
I miss you.
To take away something that helps so many people is insane. The number of deaths in the past 5 years is 5% of those who have died in the past 6 months from falling down stairs. Maybe we should outlaw stairs also. Meanwhile 480,000 people die each in this country due to cigarette smoking. I guess because the state and federal government get a nice tax it does not matter how many people die from that.
I am 48 years old and I found Kratom in 2010 while driving aimlessly. This time it happened to be a thousand miles from my home. I was THAT confused, depressed and just about at the end of my rope. I had met a wounded soldier that lost his leg in Afghanistan fighting for our country, the home of the free and the brave. But first let me tell you my story.
I have had restless leg syndrome since I was 6 years old. My mother took me to
several doctors and all they could tell her was to limit my play, and so she did. I couldn’t play with the other kids because if I played too hard I would not rest for many nights. I was tired all the time so therefore I could not concentrate in school. It was hard for me
to learn. I was held back in 2nd grade, 7th grade, 9th grade, twice. By that time, I had giving up and just quit school altogether.
When I was 18 years old I was in a bad car accident and I was put on strong pain medications. I was able to sleep with no restless legs. But eventually my injuries healed and I was taken off the pain medications and my life began to unravel, restless leg syndrome was back, and it was 10 times the monster it was as a child. So I self-medicated with whatever I could find. I was drinking every day and was functioning but not without trouble, I must be allergic to alcohol, because it caused me nothing but trouble. I then found ways to get pain medications and I maintained, I was able to sleep at night. But I could not get a permanent prescription because “I looked fine.”
I was 24years old and I was now a mother of two beautiful boys. I could not be the mother that they needed and deserved because I was always sick. I always put holidays off, birthday parties never happened for them, and sports, well they wanted to join but I never could find the time to set aside for any of these things. I was too busy looking for
a doctor, or something to help me feel better. I ended up finding relief on the street corner of all places, buying heroin from strangers.
I lived that life for three long miserable years. I eventually checked into 8 rehabs to try to stop the madness, trying to convince myself, with the help of a team of doctors, many different medications, meetings, counseling, and following their instructions to the letter. The last rehab I was in, I stayed for 8 long months. I left there with knowledge about many things I had lost along the way, and a handful of medications, none of which helped my restless leg syndrome at all. I found another doctor that diagnosed me with arthritis in my upper body, fibromyalgia, depression, and restless leg syndrome. He agreed to medicate me with opiate therapy, Lyricia, and Cymbalta. Everything I had just worked so hard to get off of! Not to mention while I was institutionalized I was made to feel I was nothing more than a drug addict. It was 2008 when I checked out of the program and tried everything I was taught. I still was not right, I was still in pain, I was depressed and I STILL had restless leg syndrome.
It was 2010 when I met the soldier I first mentioned, and he explained to me what Kratom was, how to purchase it and what it did for him. I bought it and it worked, it changed my life! It has even changed the way I dress now! I had been lost my entire life! My mother, GOD rest her soul, could do nothing but watch her daughter self-destruct, and my sons missed out on so many things because I was absent, physically and mentally.
I now have a new lease on life! I look forward to waking up, and I look forward to peaceful, restful nights. I now tell everyone I know about this plant and how it has changed my life, because it is THAT good! I am not proud of the years I wasted trying to “Feel Better”. But I am proud of me today. I have two grandchildren with one on the way. I have a second chance at showing my boys who I wanted to be to begin with, and who I am now, (I could not seem to get there before, because I was always sick). I use Kratom 2 to 3 times a day and live happy, healthy and productive and I have been for 5 years now! Before Kratom I could not do anything right two days in a row. But things are different today. I am so much better. Please don’t take the only thing away from me that has ever helped me feel like I am not different. Thank you for letting me share with you, a PART of my life. And please don’t take my choice away.
Sincerely, Kim J.
I am now 51 . If this plant gets taken away from me . I won’t last to much longer if I have to go back to the way I was before I found this plant. PLEASE #iamkratom
This is the function of dea . This is the job they do it has nothing to do with science or Americans wishes . They only have one function reschedule drugs for war on drugs no matter the cost of life or freedom . They are injustice behind a badge fighting a made up war on drugs , that’s where the story ends .
My name is Steven Bergren. I am 61 years old, a former Marine of 11 years (Military Police), former civilian Police Officer, a business owner in the Summerville SC area, an Ordained Minister and have taken Kratom (MITRAGYN SPECIOSA) for the past 6 years off and on as needed for chronic and continuous back pain.
I don’t know if you are aware of what Kratom is so I will try and give a brief explanation. Kratom is a Southeast Asian plant related to the coffee tree. It has been used for hundreds of years by indigenous people as a traditional medicine. Over the past decade or so Kratom use in the US has been growing as people have discovered its abilities to help with pain, energy, an alternative to opiate addiction (both legal and from prescribed medications) and more.
It recently has come under fire by the DEA that as of 30Sept16 will make it a Schedule 1 status. This in essence makes it criminally the same as heroin, LSD and others. (While in the Marines I suffered injuries to my back from duties, training and an auto accident. Over the years the pain has increased. There were times when my back would spasm and I would have short quick episodes of shooting pains which would make my back jerk sharply to where I would almost fall to the floor. Just moving from a standing to sitting or vice versa I would have to wait and let my back realign which in itself was quite painful. There were extended periods that sitting, standing or even laying down were painful.
I went into therapy which gained some relief but was also short term. I have used back braces, electronic stimulation units and have had shots in my back which just from the local anesthetic brought tears of relief but this was also short lived as on a few occasions I could feel it wear off daily and even the doctors said that it was a hit and miss procedure. I have also been leery of this procedure as I know of people that have had nerves damaged from the injections.
Lortabs were prescribed but I found that I constantly felt drowsy, felt like I was going to vomit constantly, upset stomach, headache, and had problems concentrating. I elected to give that up and find something else to deal with the pain.
Approximately six years ago I researched and found Kratom. I found that this plant greatly helped elevate my pain to where I could actually bend over, which to me was major step, and even allow me to start doing light workouts. It did and does not make me feel sick in any way nor does it negatively affect my thinking. In short it has been a major benefit to me and allows me to do activities that I could not do before.
I do not use Kratom every day. I use it as needed. There are periods where I do use it daily but when I don’t, when my back feels better, I stop and have no ill effects.
I used Kratom for about a year when I started having people in my stores tell me about their pain stories. I passed on my experience with it to people and gave them information on it. I started ordering it for people and found that they also benefited from it. It is now a staple product in two of my stores.
I have had so many people tell me that Kratom has been a “Godsend” to them that I cannot believe that the DEA along with the FDA are working to stop this natural product.
I have had people suffering from fibro myalgia, arthritis, surgeries, PTSD, opiate addiction and many other LEGITAMATE ailments. Over the past few years I cannot even tell you how many people have taken themselves off oxytocin, Percocet and numerous other opiates. MANY of these people were dropped by their own doctors when they advised them that they felt they were needing more of the prescribed narcotics even when they were not abusing them.
There are cases told to me that people once dropped had found their way to heroin to alleviate their pain. I know people that tried Methadone and Suboxone but those treatments did not work for them and just created a new dependency to avoid the horrendous withdrawals but that they are now clean and stay that way due to Kratom and are FUNCTIONING people in our society and they sir are SCARED of what will happen if Kratom is banned due to scheduling.
I recently attended the Washington DC Kratom March (13 SEPT16). My problems do not even compare to some of these people’s histories and struggles. I was asked to speak to several reporters from various outlets. All I could do was to tell them that there were bigger and more worthy people that had success stories than mine.
One gentleman was prescribed OxyContin and Percocet at the same time for severe back pain. He stated that he did not know what a zombie really was until then. He would be in bed for days at a time as he could not function. His wife would have to help him to the bathroom and then clean him. He felt dehumanized as he could not function. He lost his job, lost his house, they had to move in with other family members and he could do nothing. His wife was told about Kratom and he took himself off the meds. He is now working, they have another house and he is a “member in life again”.
I also saw FORMER addicts that had been through detox programs and suffered through Methadone and suboxone which did not work for them but they have been clean for SEVEN YEARS due to Kratom. This couple is now looking to start their own business.
As a former police officer I know what addiction looks like. I have arrested my share of “junkies” and seen how it has ruined lives and destroyed families. When I looked around the crowd of people at the rally I saw productive people involved in life. But I also saw people in fear of the future. Fear that their lives will return them to addiction and increased pain.
The DEA states many things. One of which is that there are “16 Kratom related deaths”. This is a major point of contention. First, studies I have read stated that Kratom unlike opiates DO NOT negatively affect the respiratory system. Second NONE of the deaths have had Kratom alone in their system. They each had opiates and other items in their system. Kratom is NOT an opioid although it does affect some of the same brain receptors. I ask that the toxicity reports are seen if the burden of proof seems to have been placed on us to supply the names and this research is ongoing.
The FDA has also been involved in this. Kratom is not at this point “Illegal” yet there have been numerous seizures. I had a shipment seized last November and is still in their care. I have tried to find out a specific reason to no avail. Supposedly my shipment is in testing with no date of release or when it will be tested. This was a $2000.00 investment for me which is a lot for my small business. There are others that have had much larger quantities seized without explanation per their policy. Even if my shipment was released there is no telling if the product will be usable.
Right now there are police agencies trying to tell their officers what to look for in a Kratom user, how they act, drive etc. This would be funny to me as a former law enforcement member if it were not true. Even if I was still in law enforcement this is one decision I could and would not enforce because I have seen with my own eyes the results of Kratom.
The USDA, the state of Florida along with other states have stated that their research does not perceive Kratom as a” Imminent Public Hazard”. In fact, from some of the research below it may interfere with trade agreements with Mexico and Canada who have not found this plant a danger.
If this ban goes through it will force me to close one of my two stores and terminate two employees that have been with me for 5 years.
Steven Bergren
Thank you for your story , and for your service to our country , bless you
The BEST explanation I have ever heard! There is NO excuse for this attack on this herbal remedy! Thank you Sir!!
If it works it’s gotta go just like pot,ephadra, andro no money in healthy people gotta keep em sick for the sake of profit fuck your health and fuck you.
Once again this shows the gestapo tactics the government goon squads use! It’s a God-given plant that was placed upon this earth for our use…
Steven, my wife uses kratom to be capable of going to work without panic attacks. I though I really needed to mention to you especially that calling the DEA comment line to express disdain for the pending ban for many people has gotten them nothing but laughter in return. That’s right. The DEA has phone jockeys who mock and laugh at callers. It really pisses me off that veterans especially are being abused by this move. I hope you have luck. So far we have a delay in the ban, but that may not last long. The AKA and BEA are doing a great job fighting for us.
Dear sir. After reading the types of pain you have suffred, i can identify because i to suffer the same things including fibromyalgia….. I just recently in november completed a drug tratment program ciming off of opioids. I know try to deal with my chronic pain without opioids and its hard but i refuse to become an addict again. I stumbled on this site and have never heard of kratom. It sounds to good to be true, but i doubt that you are lieing about this plant drug. How can i obtain it for myself? Im willing to try it.
I have been in DC for the past 2 weeks working lobby efforts and 1 week to go I am hopeful the DEA will see pressure from not just consumers like myself, middle aged female but from congress and senate since hearing from so many of their constituents on how kratom’s brought back a quality of life and most are much like myself. Good Americans paying taxes, supporting families, church goers, we are many and varied! #SaveKratom