i know vastly more people that use kratom occasionally and responsibly then don't. not everyone has that spark inside that lights up when mu receptors are tripped. just because we have it doesn't apply to everyone.

much of the recent media blitz against kratom is due to the kratom lobby's deal with RFK jr to ban 7-OH in exchange for saving leaf kratom. not sure if this is going to work.

increase in addiction to "kratom" is mostly due to ease of access to 7-OH and highly potent liquid concentrates at gas stations. in high doses, kratom's natural antagonists are overwhelmed by the partial opioid agonists (or in the case of 7-OH, full agonists). thus, it behaves more like a classical opioid. and since the average person's first exposure to kratom these days is potent concentrate shots, they can more easily become physically addicted.

occasional use of leaf (or full spectrum concentrates) has low risk of physical addiction. leaf at less then 1-2 g a day could take months to develop physical addiction.

i used kratom to get off stronger opioids, and to prevent cravings or a relapse. for .50 a day it was a fine bargin to make. all my plugs disappeared, i fell away from the scene entirely, and can now taper slowly at my leisure.

but it is vastly more difficult to become instantly addicted off kratom because it's short acting, partial agonism, and delta action. too much and it's like you've taken Salvia, right down to the "flushing" effect, dizziness, and disassociation. it's like a built in braking system. also nearly impossible to OD.

not sure how this is ruining lives. there will always be exceptions. compared to every other opioid out there, it is the safest and best tolerated and that's an absolute scientific fact