While many people mistakenly believe that legal drugs are safe and non-addictive, the reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Kratom is highly physically addictive, and it is common for users to unwittingly develop a physical dependence on the drug. When a person develops a physical dependence on it, their bodily systems and brain become accustomed to the presence of the drug. At this point, a user may need the drug to function.
Individualized Rehab for Kratom Addiction in Los Angeles, CA
NuView provides evidence-based, nonjudgmental addiction treatment in LA for Los Angeles residents who are suffering from problematic Kratom use. Our kratom rehab facility is located on the Westside area of Los Angeles and we offer a comfortable facility that assures our clients receive the personalized attention they deserve, so that they can succeed in overcoming their problems with kratom abuse. We work hard making sure that each client receives an individualized plan focused on their specific concerns and issues. Moreover, we understand that everyone develops their substance abuse habits for different reasons so it’s important to provide treatment plans that will focus on the specific needs of each client in order to prevent relapse.
Evidence-Based Outpatient Programs for Kratom Addiction in Los Angeles
Our addiction experts and counselors get to know our clients one-on-one and in groups. During these sessions, clients have an opportunity to both hear and share stories, as well as discuss methods of overcoming the challenges they face when deciding how to manage their impulses around alcohol and drugs. By using a combination therapy approach of group counseling sessions coupled with one-on-one therapy, we address any issues that have yet to be resolved in your life in order to get you past them so you may move onward without sliding back into the kratom’s clutch.
Flexible Kratom Treatment Programs in LA
We understand how important it is to be able to live your life without feeling like you have to give everything up to pursue addiction recovery. That’s why we have outpatient programs for people who would rather seek treatment while continuing with their lifestyle commitments. Evening and weekend hours allow clients to attend classes, go to work, pursue hobbies, or take care of their families while they receive addiction recovery treatment. NuView’s variety of programs help people tackle the various challenges they face every day as they move toward becoming healthy individuals. We consider a person’s strengths, weaknesses, goals, and prior experiences when designing individualized plans so that everyone can feel at home in our rehabilitation community. Quitting kratom is doable – it’s just a matter of reaching out and taking those initial first steps!
Affordable and Insurance-Covered Addiction Rehab
NuView Addiction Treatment Center is dedicated to helping individuals achieve long term sobriety at low cost. Trained specialists can help you address any area of addiction and work with you to find alternative ways to channel your self-destructive tendencies. Most major insurance plans cover treatment for kratom addiction. Moreover, our staff members will do the work for you, so you don’t need to become an expert in the complicated ins and outs of your specific insurance. Let us focus on the details – so you can just focus on getting better.
What is Kratom Addiction?
Kratom refers to an herbal substance that can produce various effects that are dependent on the strain and dosage. Kratom is available in several forms, including powder, leaves, extract pills and capsules. Depending on the dosage, the drug can provide a relaxing and calming sensation, though in smaller doses it tends to produce stimulating effects. Some varieties of kratom have been found to produce opiate-like effects, which may cause some people withdrawal symptoms upon stopping use. While Kratom is widely perceived to be safe as a botanic herb under most circumstances, the FDA has not approved any plants or chemicals derived from kratom as legitimate medicine in the United States.
Since kratom is legal, however, young people often perceive it to be a safe and risk-free alternative to other recreational drugs. In fact, this assumption couldn’t be further from the truth. In point of fact, kratom operates on the brain in ways very similar to prescription opioids like oxycodone and fentanyl. It leads to physical addiction very rapidly, and individuals can also find themselves psychologically dependent on the euphoric and calming effects of the drug. With regular usage, withdrawal symptoms can occur when a person stops abusing kratom, and they will do anything they can to obtain more kratom to find their limitless appetite for the drug.
How Does Kratom Addiction Happen?
While more research is needed to fully understand how the active compounds in kratom affects human beings, preliminary evidence shows that kratom and its associated compounds have less potential for dependence and drug overdoses compared to controlled substances like stimulants or conventional prescription opioids.
Nonetheless, a large body of evidence indicates that those who abuse kratom on a regular basis may risk becoming physically dependent. This can occur because the body naturally adapts to regular exposure to kratom. When someone stops taking it, withdrawal symptoms can emerge as the body adjusts to no longer having a regular intake of the substance. Physical dependence can lead to cravings as the body begs for relief from these symptoms. The result is addictive behavior towards kratom as a drug. In particular, the highest risk of development of dependence is reported to occur at higher dosages that are between 5g and 7g per day.
Kratom addiction also happens frequently among people who already have a chemical dependence on opioids. This is because the drug is widely touted as a “cure” for opioid addiction. While it is true that kratom operates on the brain in ways similar to opioids, this simply means that it is possible for an opioid addict to replace their prescription drug addiction with a kratom addiction.
What are the Signs of Kratom Abuse and Addiction?
If you are concerned that you or a loved one is addicted to the drug, you can look out for the following signs of kratom addiction:
- Being preoccupied with using or obtaining kratom. Addiction causes people to put all of their energy and financial resources into procuring and using the drug.
- Using it even when negative consequences are the result. This could mean using the drug despite negative performance at work or school.
- Realizing that one has an addiction to kratom but being unable to stop. They may even recognize the serious harms of abusing it but feel powerless to manage their substance abuse.
- Loss of productivity at school or work, or loss of interest in hobbies or friends.
- Lack of control when they use the drug — or having a strict routine with kratom that they seem to have to follow.
- Becoming unusually secretive, defensive, or withdrawn.
- Changes in personality or mood.
Kratom addiction can also lead to many indirect changes in a person’s health and behavior. Red flags can range from changes in sleeping and eating patterns to unexplained weight loss.
Do I Have a Kratom Addiction?
The first sign of a kratom addiction that a user will notice is an increased tolerance for the substance. After several weeks of regular use, most people will discover that they no longer experience the effects of kratom at the same level of intensity. To combat their increased tolerance, they have to increase their dosage. It is at this point that addiction tends to get progressively worse.
Individuals who develop an addiction to kratom will often find that they think about it constantly. Their obsession leads to regular cravings. Many severe addicts are unable to function without the drug, and may end up using it many times a day, even when it is not appropriate to do so.
In some cases, they may avoid events or activities that prevent them from using the drug. When a person suffers from kratom addiction, then they experience severe withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking the drug — so they will go to any length to ensure a consistent supply.
There is a distinction between addiction and abuse, however. Individuals who are taking kratom may not exhibit the characteristics of addiction. But its use can be identified by the effects of the drug.
How Can I Help Someone with a Kratom Addiction?
When your loved ones are abusing kratom, they’re going to experience many negative side effects that can affect their mood and behavior in a significant way. You can tell if someone is abusing kratom because their moods will switch from euphoria to severe depression and they’ll begin to exhibit drug-seeking behavior. It’s so important to approach them with as much consideration as possible when considering an intervention or bringing them in for treatment at NuView’s Los Angeles outpatient rehab.
More likely than not, your friend or family member with a kratom addiction has already noticed the negative effects of the drug in their life. Admitting to an addiction, however, is another matter. You can provide a much-needed helping hand just by being a trusted and caring presence. We ask that you remember not to pass judgment on the situation, but instead simply show those whom you care about that there is someone in their life who is always willing to lend an ear no matter what their problems might be.
The second way you can help is by encouraging your loved one to seek medical treatment from professionals who can give them an assessment as to whether or not medically supervised detox is the appropriate step for their situation. A qualified rehab center, such as NuView Treatment Center, can also design a treatment plan that helps them get clean and sober and develop a new and fulfilling life without having to depend on kratom as a crutch. No matter how severe a person’s kratom abuse is, it’s important to understand that getting clean requires heeding medical experts’ advice when it comes to easing out of addiction without putting the patient at risk.
Finally, you can be of assistance by being aware of what addiction treatments are out there. People addicted to kratom may not always be thinking clearly, so your ability to work with them on their sobriety may end up really benefiting the family as a whole. It’s worth learning what it is that people have to say about kratom addiction – it might give you some direction on which method of addiction treatment is right for your loved one too. Getting information regarding any available local drug rehabilitation centers, such as NuView Treatment Center in Los Angeles, and trying to assess which would be best for your individual family member situation may be a great way to go too!
How Is Kratom Addiction Treated?
Many people struggle for years to overcome kratom addiction, with little success. One common mistake is believing that physical dependence and addiction are the same. In these cases, individuals may successfully withdraw from the drug and conclude that they are cured.
But addiction is a mental health condition that causes obsessive cravings and thoughts about substance abuse even in the absence of physical symptoms. Without a solid treatment plan for addiction in place, many people return to kratom abuse in the days, weeks, or months after withdrawing.
As a mental health condition that affects willpower, addiction cannot be cured without outside help. Making a firm commitment to oneself and trying hard to quit is not sufficient. Unfortunately, many people fail to get the help they need because they worry that having a problem with kratom is somehow weak or shameful. If you or a loved one suffers from addiction, it is not due to a moral failing. Addiction is a highly treatable chronic health condition.
How Do Outpatient Programs Help Kratom Addicts?
NuView Treatment Center is an outpatient treatment center for substance use disorders and mental health conditions. Our facility is located in West Los Angeles. At NuView Treatment Center, clients can benefit from the most cutting-edge therapies and treatment modalities. We employ both physicians and masters-level clinicians who take an evidence-based approach to recovery.
When clients come to NuView Treatment Center, the first step is to connect them with a counselor that they will work closely with throughout their recovery process. These counselors specialize in helping people overcome issues specific to their conditions, like trauma, addiction and depression. In addition to attending regular group therapy appointments alongside their individual sessions, many clients also choose additional counseling services such as occupational therapy or other complementary treatments that have been proven successful at NuView Treatment Center based on the individual needs of each client and their respective cases.
Our staff specialize in a diverse range of treatment approaches such as:
- Individual therapy
- Medication monitoring
- Mindfulness, yoga, and meditation activities
- Career and education planning
- 12-step programs and 12-step alternatives
- Drug education
- Relapse prevention training
- Urine tests to ensure abstinence
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavioral therapy
- Fitness and health education
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Kratom Addiction
Addiction to kratom, an increasingly popular supplement that’s been available since the 1990s, is a serious matter. The key ingredient to getting yourself or someone you love off of the potentially dangerous herb is compassion for one’s self as well as willingness to get clean. NuView’s outpatient drug and alcohol treatment center offers a variety of effective treatment modalities including holistic and mind-body approaches that help clients build their self-esteem and rediscover the everyday joys of living.
These innovative approaches include:
- Fitness programs
- Art therapy
- Sound therapy
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Nutritional programs
Unfortunately, taking physically addictive substances like kratom for a long time can actually lower one’s ability to produce dopamine naturally, which ultimately reduces a person’s ability to feel happiness from activities. The above-mentioned therapies help in the healing / rewiring of the brain and also trigger the body’s natural methods of producing happiness – so-called “natural highs.”
What Types of Outpatient Programs Are Useful for Kratom Addiction?
Our programs cover all levels of addiction severity. They include:
- Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs)
- Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs)
- Outpatient programs (OPs)
- And aftercare planning
No matter where you are on your recovery journey, our clinicians will work with you and offer compassion and empathy. You will learn the important coping skills you need to prevent relapse and stay drug and alcohol-free. Moreover, you will get the individualized attention you deserve to address underlying issues that may be motivating your kratom abuse.
As you progress in your recovery, you will find yourself rebuilding your life and reaching for goals that felt previously unattainable.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
Partial hospitalization programs provide the most intensive treatment programs among outpatient rehab plans. They are beneficial for individuals who have severe cases of kratom addiction. While enrolled in a PHP, clients take part in therapy multiple days a week for the majority of each day – working on their recovery almost like a job. Group therapy, individual therapy, and medical support work in conjunction to help clients get clean so that they can begin their recovery journeys.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Intensive outpatient programs represent the second highest level of care. These medically supervised and rigorous programs meet several times a week for a few hours. Clients work to develop new coping skills and relapse prevention techniques. Meanwhile, they have plenty of opportunities to build their social support systems and practice their newfound skills in their everyday lives.
Evening Intensive Outpatient Program (Evening IOP)
NuView Treatment Center is pioneering a unique outpatient program that is specifically designed to meet the needs of the working professional. Whether you have a demanding job, academic commitments, or have a family that needs you, our evening intensive outpatient program is there for you. The evening IOP offers the same quality of addiction treatment as our other programs, but it fits snugly into your schedule – so that your treatment works for you.
Outpatient Program (OP)
Outpatient programs are the default level of care. They generally meet once a week and consist of group therapy and sometimes one on one therapy as well. Outpatient programs are perfect for people who have begun to make strides in their lives but want to remain connected to their recovery. As life gets bigger, so too do the challenges, and it is all the more important to continue growing, developing new skills, and building a sobriety support system.
How Can I Afford Kratom Addiction Treatment?
Substance use disorders are legitimate mental health disorders. In fact, the DSM-5, the book the psychiatrists use to diagnose mental illnesses, lists substance use disorder as a prominent condition. By law, insurance companies are required to pay for treatment for these conditions. Outpatient rehab programs at NuView Treatment Center are covered by a wide range of major health insurance companies. Even many small healthcare plans offer coverage for our highly regarded kratom addiction treatment programs.
Clients who are suffering from kratom addiction often find it overwhelming to figure out the details of their insurance plans, however. At NuView, we recognize that this an be an impediment to getting help. For this reason, our staff do the work for you. Simply give us a call, and we will reach out to your health insurance company and determine your level of coverage. In many cases, we are able to arrange for you to get the help you need without having to pay a single penny of your own.
How Does NuView Treatment Center Support Families?
Addiction is a family disease. Not only does it have a genetic basis, but a large body of research also shows that early childhood experiences at home can influence addiction later in life. For this reason, addressing family dynamics is often a critical component of addiction treatment. Helping people improve their relationships with their loved ones not only makes it more likely that they’ll stay sober, it also makes life in sobriety far more joyful.
But it isn’t just the addicted person we aim to help. Often, their family members and other loved ones are suffering acutely as a result of the addicted person’s behavior. These family members sometimes engage in enabling or self-sacrificing behavior in an effort to help their suffering loved one. At NuView Treatment Center, we work hard to help family members to get the help they need. Workshops and family meetings give these individuals opportunities to meet other people in similar situations. Our addiction experts and staff members educate family members on substance abuse and also encourage them to take care of their own needs.
Life After Kratom Addiction
For people addicted to kratom, life in sobriety can be difficult to fathom. At NuView Treatment Center, our goal is not only to get clients sober, but also to help them envision a future for themselves that does not involve psychoactive drugs. Moreover, we work with our clients to take steps toward making those futures a reality.
Clients address the fundamental reasons that led them to abuse drugs in the first place, develop new techniques for avoiding relapse, and build strong social support systems. In the meantime, they take giant strides toward new fulfilling lives. For some, this means returning to school. For others, it can mean a career change – or even getting employed for the very first time. For clients with longstanding issues like debt or legal problems, we also work to get them the help and assistance they need so that they can be liberated from the shackles of their past mistakes.
Long after clients have left NuView Treatment Center, we continue to stay in touch. It is our goal at NuView Treatment Center to remain a resource and a meeting place for people in recovery at all stages. Many former clients continue to get involved and help current clients who are in the early stages of addiction recovery. Our alumni form a vast network, keeping themselves accountable and staying friends. These relationships not only help keep them sober over the long term, but they are a limitless source of joy, meaning, fulfillment, and hope.
The recovery and transformation that people need to have in order to free themselves from addiction isn’t a one time thing. After all, addiction isn’t simply “cured’ when a person stops taking kratom. But the fact that addiction needs to be continually addressed is, in many ways, a good thing. Recovery is a lifelong process that means you will need to continually grow. Not everyone has that option. For people in recovery from addiction, there’s only one choice to make: build a life that is joyful and fulfilling.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are many reasons that people are drawn to kratom. It is appealing to young people because it is legal. Since abusing the drug is not criminally punishable, young people who generally avoid drugs may be more likely to experiment with it. It is also often abused by people who believe it can help them recover from a physical or mental health problem.
Proponents of kratom believe that the drug offers safe relief from mild to moderate pain. They also claim that it helps with anxiety and depression. Some people even claim that it can help reduce the cravings associated with addiction. Individuals with pre-existing drug or alcohol use disorders often turn to the drug in the mistaken belief that it will reduce their cravings and withdrawal symptoms. However, people self-medicating with the drug on their own are more likely than not to develop an addiction, which ultimately worsens the conditions they are trying to get relief from.
Many people abuse it because they believe that it helps them overcome their anxiety or makes them more relaxed in social settings. Individuals with insomnia sometimes take kratom to help them fall asleep. A small amount of preliminary research has shown that the drug may reduce opioid cravings, but only when taken under strict medical supervision. When taken freely, it leads to further addiction.
Kratom abuse often comes about as a result of self-medication, which is the process of self-administering substances to mitigate the symptoms of a physical or mental health condition. Self-medication is rarely effective, and it is often dangerous. While it may sometimes lead to short-term improvements, over the long run it generally exacerbates the symptoms of the underlying disorder.
Once addiction sets in, individuals often find themselves suffering from an additional set of painful symptoms as well.
Ironically, many young people turn to kratom because they believe that it can help them eradicate their addictions. Since it affects opioid receptors, it is often touted as a helpful tool for weaning off opioids.
While there is indeed some preliminary evidence that taking the drug can reduce the withdrawal symptoms that people experience when they quit heroin or other opiates, it is vital to understand that users may end up simply replacing their opioid addiction with a kratom addiction. After all, kratom is addictive as well – and even people who successfully quit opioids can become addicted to kratom. In the worst case, they may become addicted to both opioids and kratom – and their situation will be much worse.
It is important to note, however, that even though it acts on opioid receptors, kratom does not cause the same side effects as opioid drugs. Moreover, at high doses, it does not pose the same risks as opioids do. Opioid drugs like morphine and fentanyl can cause respiratory depression at high doses, which can be fatal. While kratom does not lead to these specific symptoms of overdose, however, the drug is not without its risks.
Kratom is both physically and psychologically addictive. Research on the progression and timeline of kratom addiction is only just beginning. Nonetheless, anecdotal evidence points to a basic timeline. After a month of daily use, most people find that they develop some degree of psychological dependence on the drug.
The physical dependence on kratom usually develops after six months. It should be noted, though, that this timeline depends on the specific type and strain of the drug a person is abusing. Certain strains are far more potent and lead to addiction more quickly.
In traditional medicine, kratom leaves are traditionally chewed raw. The leaves of the herb can be dried, crushed, and consumed in a tea. The dried leaves can also be smoked.
However, in the United States it is available in many different formulations. Pills, capsules, and extracts are common products available online and in smoke shops. The drug is also often sold as a green powder. These packets are often labeled “not for human consumption.” It is also increasingly common for it to be sold as gum or extract.
When it comes to drugs of abuse in the United States, kratom is a relative newcomer. However, as a natural plant, the drug has been around for thousands of years. Kratom comes from a tropical evergreen tree. While traditionally taken as an herbal supplement in small doses, today’s commercial formulations often come in the form of capsules or tablets.
Before it was more well-known as a commercial drug of abuse, it was an important part of traditional medicine in Southwest Asia. It was used as an anti-diarrhea medicine, as a painkiller, and even as part of religious ceremonies.
Since kratom is popular among young people, it is common for individuals to use slang terms while referring to the drug.
Common street names for Kratom include:
- Ketum
- Biak-biak
- Herbal speedball
- Kahuam
- Thom
- Itham
- Blak
- Kakuam
- Ithang
The FDA and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration categorize it as a “drug of concern” because there is growing evidence that it is highly addictive. When the substance is regularly abused, individuals often find it difficult to stop.
In the United States and Europe, kratom is not very regulated. While efforts are underway to make the drug illegal or at least more tightly controlled, at the moment it is legal for stores to sell the drug. Unfortunately, many young people have the misconception that legal drugs are perfectly safe. As a result, many school-age young people abuse the drug, believing that it is a safe alternative to other recreational drugs.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime classifies Kratom as a “new psychoactive substance.” This is the same category used for drugs like khat, mephedrone, and synthetic ketamine. Young people often obtain these drugs online.
Since kratom abuse has only recently emerged as a trend in the United States, it has not been studied in clinical trials as much as other drugs of abuse. This means that the health effects of consuming the drug are unpredictable.
Some of the most commonly reported health effects of abusing kratom include:
- Being more sensitive to sunburns
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Itching
- Constipation
- Sweating
- Loss of appetite
- Increased urination
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
Kratom abuse, especially over long periods of time, can also cause psychotic episodes. While it rarely leads to fatal overdoses, it should be noted that commercial formulations of the drug often contain unpredictable additives. These additives and compounds, when taken at high enough doses, can cause toxic shock and poisoning.
Since the drug affects opioid receptors, taking the drug regularly is likely to result in physical dependence. Once a person has developed a physical dependence on kratom, they will experience painful withdrawal symptoms when they try to reduce their dosage or stop taking it.
Reports of the following kratom withdrawal symptoms are common:
- Insomnia
- Muscle aches
- Hostility
- Irritability
- Emotional changes
- Aggression
- Jerky movements
- Runny nose
- Hot flashes
- Sweating and tremors
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Restless legs
Most of the time, withdrawal symptoms will begin somewhere between 12 and 48 hours after a person last takes the drug. After 3 days, most symptoms will have subsided, though it is possible for mild symptoms to last longer than that.
However, it is important to recognize that many addicts experience what is known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). Individuals who suffer from PAWS can experience withdrawal symptoms much longer than 3 days, which increases the likelihood of relapse.
Moreover, individuals who use kratom as a way of weaning off of opioids may find their withdrawal a bit more complicated.
If you or a loved one is withdrawing from the drug, it is important to get professional help from a kratom addiction treatment center, where staff can help you deal with uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and provide you with the support you need.
The early research that scientists are doing on the drug has not shown that it has a high potential for overdose. In fact, it is somewhat difficult to overdose on it. Nonetheless, abuse has been associated with several deaths. One 2019 paper found that between the years 2011 and 2017, 11 people died in the United States after taking kratom.
These deaths were not a direct result of kratom abuse, however. Rather, they were the result of taking the drug alongside other substances.
Commercial formulations of kratom are unregulated. As such, they are likely to contain unpredictable and dangerous chemicals. Taking these regularly or at high doses can result in health problems that require emergency medical attention.
Kratom abuse and addiction are relatively new subjects of study. As a result, statistics and figures are still fairly scarce. Nonetheless, the following figures are cause for concern:
- Between 2014 and 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has recognized 15 deaths that are a direct result of kratom abuse.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have even higher figures. Over a 17 month period, they found that nearly 100 people died due to abusing the drug. They also estimate that 7% of cases of abuse are serious and life-threatening.
- 42% of cases of kratom abuse between the years 2010 and 2015 led to dangerous health problems that required treatment.
The drug has distinct effects at different doses. At low doses, it functions as a stimulant. When a person has ingested a small dose of kratom, their behavior will be somewhat altered. Kratom’s effects on brain receptors at low doses cause people to experience a burst of energy. They may feel more alert and eleven more social. They will be more alert, talkative, energetic, and sometimes even more sexual. Small doses of the drug can also lead to decreased appetite and some degree of anxiety and coordination issues.
However, when a person takes larger doses of the drug, it functions as a sedative. Taking higher doses of the drug has distinct effects, rather than simply more intense versions of the effects people experience at low doses. Kratom contains two distinct compounds that interact with opioid receptors. This is how the drug produces its effects, which run the gamut from sedation and pleasure to pain relief. At very high doses, it may indeed feel indistinguishable from opiates. After an initial period of euphoria, abusers can seem sedated. They may also experience itching, constipation, and nausea. For this reason, many users turn to kratom as an opioid alternative while they are trying to wean off of prescription painkillers or heroin.