This popular supplement could turn you into an unwitting opioid addict

In a recent turn of events, a popular health and wellness supplement may have inadvertently led a young entrepreneur down a dangerous path, resulting in a five-week stay in rehab due to opioid addiction. This troubling development comes as kratom use continues to surge, with over 5 million people in the U.S. reportedly having tried it, including more than 100,000 teenagers aged 12 to 17.

Kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia, is often marketed as an energy booster, mood enhancer, and pain reliever, and can be found in a variety of forms such as powder, liquid extracts, edibles, and raw leaves. Sold in over 10,000 stores across the country, this supplement has even infiltrated the beverage industry, with products like Feel Free, which boasts a 21+ label but has been found available without proper ID in many Chicago-area stores.

Consumers of Feel Free, including McKenzie Wisdom, have expressed their shock at discovering the addictive properties of the beverage. The company behind the product claims it is selling responsibly, stating that their products have undergone rigorous third-party testing, clinical review, enhanced labeling, and voluntary restrictions on sales to adults only.

However, the American Medical Association (AMA) argues for stricter regulations, urging the FDA and state legislatures to classify 7-OH kratom products as adulterated or misbranded, particularly when sold in child-friendly forms and flavors like watermelon, strawberry, and lemonade.

The CDC reports a staggering 1,200% increase in kratom-related exposure reports from 2015 to 2025, with 233 related deaths. The AMA seeks to expand bans on kratom and prohibit its distribution and marketing, including the 7-OH variant. The DEA has also filed an intent to temporarily include 7-OH and related substances on Schedule I of the Controlled Substance Act, but this move does not eliminate kratom entirely, as it only targets synthesized products with elevated concentrations of 7-OH.

While regulatory efforts strive to curb the widespread use of kratom, the supplement remains easily accessible online and in various retail outlets, including vape shops and gas stations.