Kratom and Kava Craze

By Derek Puma 

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NEW YORK - There are two plant-based substances that have been gaining traction in the Unites States as of late, Kava and Kratom. These substances are legal, (though not FDA approved), mainly sold in any local gas station, smoke shop, or convenience store as capsules and powders, and they even started opening shops where they make drinks out of tea with these substances. Island Kava in Lindenhurst, Massapequa, and Patchogue are examples of this. Although these are natural substances as they come from plants, that doesn’t mean there's no risk. These substances have become controversial as of late, as on Long Island the substance Kratom has just been bannedin Nassau County. Both substances are marketed to aid in helping recovering addicts from addictions such as alcoholism and opioids, and are also marketed to serve as an overall substitute for alcohol. But the scientists say there is a real risk of abuse and addiction to both Kava and Kratom themselves, and they can lead to “severe withdraw symptoms” as stated in an article from recovered.org, which is why so many people are so split on these substances. Many cannot seem to figure out whether they're more harmful or beneficial to society.  

Kratom 

Kratom is the more potent, arguably more addictive substance of the 2. Kratom is a tropical plant native to southeast Asia. Many people use kratom for pain relief, or to help get off opioid addictions, as an article from ufhealth.org stated that kratom “Demonstrated benefits reliving opioid withdrawal.” Although, at low dosages, it can be used as a stimulant. Many people use low doses in the morning for coffee, or even for a pre-workoutbeverage for an energy boost. At high dosages is where this substance rises in chances of addiction. This is because at high doses this substance acts not as a stimulant, but an opioid-like effect. There are also Kratom “shots” sold at gas stations that are available for anyone, any age to buy, which contain high dosages of kratom. A report from cdc.gov stated that “An analysis from a poison data system noted that kratom related hospitalizations have almost doubled since 2011.” 

Kava 

Kava is a plant from the South Pacific, and it's generally considered the less addictive of the two. Kava is mainly used for relaxation and stress relief. People even use it in social settings at times. It's known to put people in a mellow peaceful mood. Although, this is basically all speculative and subjective, as many people's bodies react to the substance differently, and some people feel nothing at all. A study from uclahealth.org found that “Kava may help relieve anxiety in the short term, Nonetheless, the lack of human clinical trials makes it difficult to assess the benefits of kava.” The same study also found that kava may slightly impair driving skills. 

Overall, there seems to be no definitive answer whether these substances hurt or help society more, hence their legality being in discussion as of recent. Scholars on this subject urge people to always do their research before trying new substances, especially ones that are not FDA approved.