Is Kratom the new Heroin?

Kratom Leaves

Kratom can be considered the new heroin because of its opiate like effects. Although that is really the only thing that kratom has in common with heroin.

What is kratom?

Kratom is an herbal leaf. Kratom was first documented by a Dutch colonial botanist. Kratom contains alkaloids including mitraphylline, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. These alkaloids act as opioid receptor antagonists; because of this the function of kratom is to be an alternative to opiates such as morphine or even heroin. Kratom can be smoked, chewed or broken down into an herbal tea. Some people use it as a stimulant in order to improve their sexual activity. Kratom can also be used for the withdrawal from opiates such as heroin or morphine.

Are the side effects of kratom like heroin?

Kratom gives euphoric effects to its users just as heroin and all opiates do. Although kratom has many other side effects, most of the time these negative or other effects are not apparent unless someone has been large amounts of kratom or has been using kratom for a long period of time.

Some of the side effects of kratom are:

• Nausea
• loss of libido
• dryness of mouth
• increase or decrease urination
• vomiting and prolonged sleep
• anorexia and weight loss
• insomnia

Can you overdose on kratom like you can on heroin?

Yes. Some of the overdose effects of kratom are very unpleasant. Some of the overdose symptoms of kratom use are:

• Aggression
• Nausea
• Tremors
• Delusions
• Hallucinations
• problems in motion coordination

Can kratom show up on a drug test like heroin?

Yes, due to the alkaloids in Kratom such as mitragynine and speciogynine; kratom can be detected in urine and therefore can be detected with drug tests that test for those alkaloids.

Is kratom illegal like heroin?

Kratom is not illegal like heroin is. Kratom is illegal in Thailand, Australia, Myanmar, and Malaysia. Those countries impose severe penalties for possession of Kratom. Kratom is legal in the United States but the laws can always change.

Kratom could be the new heroin but the dangers and the rate of dependence is not as high with kratom. Heroin is extremely addictive and extremely potent. Kratom could be called the gateway drug to heroin use though. Kratom kind of opens the doors to more potent opiate use. Kratom is the legal and more “light”, if you will, drug in comparison to heroin but can easily make someone with addictive behavior want more of an effect like heroin produces.

Kratom is the new relapse drug for many addicts and alcoholics and more and more people are being found to use kratom as their drug of choice. Kratom can be dangerous and while it is legal in the United States that does not mean it isn’t drug nor that it is safe. 

Kratom is the new gateway drug for heroin leading people to want to experience more intense highs regardless of the dangers. So is kratom the new heroin? You tell us. While it may not be similar in some respects it definitely is a starting point to more dangerous substances.