The Rise of Kratom and Its Impact on Users

Bari Sinoyannis, a stay-at-home mom, sought a natural remedy for pain when she purchased kratom powder at a smoke shop in North Carolina back in 2022. She was drawn to its marketing as a plant-based alternative to traditional painkillers.

“I thought, hey, I’ll give it a shot, and I became addicted almost immediately,” the 37-year-old shared. “It felt like a miracle drug. I believed it would alleviate my pain and depression until, well, until it didn’t.”

What she didn’t realize is how easily accessible kratom is—available at gas stations, convenience stores, and smoke shops. This substance is highly addictive and can result in severe withdrawal and serious side effects.

Kratom, derived from psychoactive plants in Southeast Asia, comes in various forms—powders, drinks, gummies, capsules, teas, and energy shots. It’s often praised for pain relief and as a natural remedy for anxiety and depression, giving users a sense of alertness and energy.

However, there are significant risks involved.

Over the ensuing years, Sinoyannis found herself needing kratom daily, ultimately spending up to $600 weekly to maintain her addiction. She graduated from powder to a stronger derivative known as 7-OH, which is more concentrated.

“If I didn’t wake up multiple times at night to take my medication, I would face withdrawal symptoms by morning,” she explained.

Withdrawal can manifest as sweating, restlessness, nausea, anxiety, and insomnia, according to insights from Johns Hopkins University.

Sinoyannis lamented, “It didn’t matter how much I took; I still suffered. I’d sit on the floor and vomit between doses. My kids witnessed my struggles, and my husband was nearly at his breaking point. There was even an occasion when the ambulance had to come, and my children had to seek help from neighbors.”

In January, she decided it was time for change and enrolled in a 32-day rehabilitation program. Throughout detox, several roommates left due to intense withdrawal symptoms. Now, several months sober, she’s baffled at how such a life-altering drug was so readily available.

“You can buy it anywhere, which is part of why I believed in it,” she criticized. “With heroin or fentanyl, you have to procure them from less reputable sources, making it clear they’re harmful. But kratom appeals to moms because it’s marketed as natural.”

The accessibility of kratom has led many to underestimate its dangers. A recent study from the University of Michigan revealed over 5 million Americans, including 100,000 children aged 12 to 17, have tried kratom.

One well-known kratom-infused drink brand, Feelfree, reported sales of $250 million in 2025 with a bottle of its product priced around $13.

It’s becoming so mainstream that kratom is sold at major retailers like 7-Eleven, with sales allegedly rising by 21% from 2023 to 2024, reaching $441 million nationwide.

Industry estimates suggest the total market could be a staggering $2 billion annually, leading to calls for regulation. Currently, only seven states have banned it: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Vermont, and Wisconsin, with Tennessee considering similar measures.

Kratom is noted to potentially cause nausea, dizziness, sweating, and more severe effects like confusion and psychosis. Between July 2016 and December 2017, 152 confirmed overdose deaths linked to kratom were reported by the CDC.

Matthew Farmer, 32, didn’t see kratom as a huge problem, thinking its widespread availability made it acceptable. “Everywhere I went, it was offered, and I was looking for an escape,” he reflected. “Store clerks might not grasp what they’re handing out, but they’re effectively distributing drugs.”

He quickly transitioned to daily use; his mental health began to plummet, catching the attention of those around him.

“People could tell something was off, even if I didn’t recognize it right away,” he said, explaining how his social life deteriorated. “At work, I’d excuse myself just to drink kratom discreetly.”

His experience reflects a broader trend, with kratom popping up in bars that market themselves as sober spaces. Pasha Karachev tried a kratom drink at a local bar in Brooklyn, initially feeling productive without the aftereffects of alcohol. “I thought, ‘This is great—I can be active without a hangover,’” he recounted.

As he tried to cut back during the pandemic, he felt excruciating physical pain. “Within a day, I thought I’d poisoned myself,” he admitted. “It was as if kratom rewired my brain chemistry—I felt dependent on it to function.”

Chris Obring, 28, has also been caught in the cycle of kratom addiction since he first learned about it at 19. “I justified it by saying I wasn’t using anything worse,” he explained, but his spending soared, sometimes hitting $150 daily.

He expressed the torment of addiction: “I tried to quit, but even throwing it away didn’t keep me away. It’s heartbreaking because I genuinely love life.”

Some individuals have turned to kratom in hopes of overcoming stronger addictions, like opioids. Destiny Torgerson started using it during her pregnancy as a substitute for heroin cravings. “People insisted it was safe,” she recalled, “but once I gave birth, I realized I was now addicted to kratom.”

Despite its initial help, she struggled with memory issues and focus, recalling a week when she locked her keys multiple times. It took four years and treatment with prescription drugs for her to finally break free from kratom. Reflecting on her journey, she stated that quitting kratom was tougher than overcoming her heroin addiction.

“I managed to quit heroin on my own. It’s tough seeing others swap one addiction for another like I did,” she concluded.