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Is kratom safe? It’s a question more people are asking as “natural” supplements like Feel Free gain popularity across the United States. Marketed as an herbal tonic for focus, relaxation, or pain relief, Feel Free seems harmless at first glance. Yet, Feel Free addiction hides a growing public health concern that’s now drawing attention from doctors, addiction specialists, and the FDA.
The truth is that Feel Free addiction, a form of kratom addiction tied to concentrated extracts, has become an alarming reality for many Americans. While traditional kratom leaves have been used for centuries in Southeast Asia, today’s enhanced products tell a very different story. They’re not just herbal supplements; they can act like unregulated opioids in disguise.
In this blog by GateHouse Treatment, we’ll discuss what Feel Free addiction is, what science says about kratom’s safety, the signs of Feel Free addiction, and how to find support.
What Is Feel Free Addiction?
Feel Free addiction refers to dependency on the drink Feel Free Classic, a kava and kratom-based tonic sold in convenience stores and online. This product has achieved massive commercial success, reporting over 129 million servings sold and hundreds of millions in revenue by 2025. Yet, along with its popularity came thousands of cases of severe dependence, withdrawal, and hospitalization.
According to the FDA, unlike natural kratom leaf powders, Feel Free contains chemically enhanced extracts, particularly high concentrations of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). This compound is much more potent than the plant’s primary alkaloid, mitragynine, and binds to the brain’s opioid receptors with potency comparable to or even greater than morphine.
In essence, Feel Free turns a mildly stimulating botanical into a powerful opioid-like substance, one that’s unregulated and readily available.
Is Kratom Safe? The Science Behind the Debate
So, is kratom safe? The answer depends on what kind of kratom we’re talking about. Traditional kratom leaves, when used in moderate amounts, have been described by some studies as relatively low-risk. In fact, a JAMA Network Open study involving over 350 daily users found that most participants experienced manageable dependence rather than the catastrophic addiction seen with opioids.
However, when kratom is chemically modified, as in concentrated liquid shots like Feel Free, the story changes. Research reviewed in Public Health Toxicology and The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse confirmed that enhanced 7-OH products can cause severe physical dependence, intense cravings, and opioid-like withdrawal symptoms.
In other words, while traditional kratom may be less dangerous, concentrated versions have transformed the plant into a potent, synthetic-like drug.
How Feel Free Addiction Develops
The cycle of Feel Free addiction often begins innocently. Many people turn to the drink for energy, stress relief, or to replace alcohol and prescription painkillers. But as tolerance builds, they start needing more bottles each day to feel normal. Reports have surfaced of individuals consuming up to 12 bottles daily, spending thousands per month to stave off withdrawal.
Withdrawal symptoms resemble those of opioid dependence and may include:
- Severe body aches and muscle pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Anxiety, irritability, and depression
- Restlessness or insomnia
- High blood pressure, sweating, and chills
Because Feel Free also contains kava, a sedative herb that affects the brain’s GABA receptors, users face an additional layer of risk. The combination of kava’s depressant effects and kratom’s opioid-like stimulation creates a dangerous cocktail for both the liver and the nervous system.
The Public Health Impact of Kratom Addiction
Between 2024 and 2025, U.S. Poison Control Centers recorded a surge in kratom-related cases, 1,690 in just the first seven months of 2025, surpassing the total for all of 2024. In Texas alone, reports nearly doubled, and more than a dozen patients required hospital care due to severe toxicity.
This pattern aligns directly with the rise of Feel Free and similar products. While many users still believe they’re consuming a “natural” supplement, these beverages often contain opioid-strength alkaloids without any regulatory oversight. The FDA has issued repeated warnings about kratom’s dangers, particularly its link to seizures, respiratory depression, and addiction.
Despite the mounting evidence, kratom remains legal at the federal level, sold as a dietary supplement rather than a controlled substance. Experts have called this a regulatory failure, leaving vulnerable consumers exposed to potentially life-threatening risks.
Understanding Kratom Addiction and the Brain
From a neurological perspective, kratom addiction, or Kratom Use Disorder (KUD), operates similarly to opioid addiction. The alkaloids in kratom, especially 7-OH, bind to mu-opioid receptors, triggering dopamine release and a sense of euphoria. Over time, the brain adapts, reducing its natural dopamine production. This leads to tolerance, withdrawal, and compulsive use patterns.
Recent findings from Johns Hopkins and NIDA emphasize that individuals who use kratom to self-medicate for anxiety, depression, or chronic pain are at higher risk for developing dependence. For these individuals, kratom begins as a coping mechanism but can quickly become a chemical trap.
Treatment for Feel Free Addiction: Medical Support and Recovery
Because Feel Free addiction shares many characteristics with opioid dependence, treatment requires a comprehensive, medically supervised approach. While there’s no FDA-approved medication specifically for kratom withdrawal, addiction specialists often use buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone) or lofexidine to manage symptoms safely.
How GateHouse Treatment Can Help
At GateHouse Treatment, recovery from Feel Free or kratom addiction begins with compassion and evidence-based care. Our experienced clinical team offers:
- Medical detox to manage withdrawal symptoms safely
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for opioid-like dependence
- Partial hospitalization
- Intensive outpatient program
- Outpatient program
- Aftercare planning to sustain long-term recovery
At GateHouse Treatment, we understand that every person’s journey is unique. Our programs focus not only on breaking chemical dependency but also on restoring mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
Why Awareness Matters
Many individuals struggling with Feel Free addiction started out believing they were making a healthy choice. Clever marketing, social media hype, and accessibility at local stores have helped normalize kratom use among young adults and professionals alike. Yet, the scientific and clinical evidence now paints a clear picture. These enhanced kratom products can cause addiction as severe as opioids, but without the same medical oversight or public awareness.
Addiction doesn’t discriminate, and neither should support. Recognizing the signs early, such as escalating tolerance, mood changes, and cravings, can prevent long-term harm.
Seek Help, Find Freedom with GateHouse Treatment
The growing crisis of Feel Free addiction reflects more than a dangerous product trend; it reveals the gaps in how society perceives “natural” remedies. The question “Is kratom safe?” is no longer theoretical; it’s a matter of public health urgency.
If you or someone you love is struggling with kratom dependence, recovery is possible. At GateHouse Treatment, individuals receive the medical guidance, emotional support, and community connection needed to rebuild a life free from addiction.
Call us at (855) 488-3588 or contact us online to learn more about personalized programs that can help you take the first step toward lasting recovery. Healing begins with understanding, and you don’t have to go through it alone.
- Feel Free Addiction: Understanding Kratom Addiction and Its Hidden Dangers - November 13, 2025
- Virtual Addiction Treatment: A New Era of Accessible Recovery at GateHouse Treatment - July 4, 2025
- Teen Substance Use Decline in 2025 - May 27, 2025
