Kratom addiction treatment is a type of care to help people overcome Kratom abuse. Kratom comes from a plant called Mitragyna speciosa and is commercially sold as a supplement for pain relief and improving mood. It’s also used by people experiencing opioid withdrawal to alleviate discomfort.
Kratom is addictive and can require its own form of treatment to safely be removed from the body. But what exactly is kratom, and when is kratom addiction treatment necessary?
What Is Kratom?
Kratom is derived from a plant that’s grown in Southeast Asia. Its leaves contain a compound called 7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine). 7-OH is not an opioid, but it acts on the body in a similar way because it’s an opioid receptor agonist with up to 22 times the binding affinity of morphine to opioid receptors [1].
Despite its natural origin, there are safety concerns about kratom. The FDA has not approved kratom for medical or supplemental use and advises against using products that contain it [2].
Kratom is sold over the counter as a supplement in the form of raw leaves, dried powder, tea or liquid extract. It’s widely available in gas stations and vape shops. In the US, more than 1.7 million people over the age of 12 say they have tried kratom [2].
In low doses, kratom is a stimulant that can increase energy levels. In higher doses, it can have the opposite effect and be a sedative that causes drowsiness and lowers pain and anxiety [3].
Kratom is taken by individuals to self-treat:
- Pain
- Digestive issues
- Anxiety and depression
- Opioid withdrawal symptoms
Kratom use is high among people with an opioid disorder. One study shows that more than 10% of people suffering from opioid addiction report taking kratom [4].
What Are The Signs of Kratom Addiction?
Estimates suggest that as many as 10 to 15 million people are addicted to kratom [5]. However, that number is unclear because kratom is not regulated at the federal level. What is known is that kratom addiction is higher among people who have an existing substance use disorder.
Signs of kratom addiction include:
- Cravings
- Needing higher amounts to achieve the same effects as before
- Becoming irritable or angry between use
- Increasing the time and money spent on getting kratom
- Sweating and having chills between use
Withdrawal symptoms are a sign of kratom addiction. Higher doses and more frequent use can lead to more symptoms with greater severity. Withdrawal symptoms include [6]:
- Nausea
- Runny nose
- Muscle aches
- Loss of appetite
- Disrupted sleep
- Vomiting
- Hot flushes
- Mood changes
Is Kratom Dangerous?
The lack of regulation around kratom makes it dangerous. One report of contaminated kratom products said that it increased by 1,200% in a 10-year period between 2015 and 2025, in the US [7].
Kratom product manufacturers don’t have to add warning labels to products, and the quantity of kratom and the combination with other substances don’t have to be displayed on products. The risk of overdosing with kratom is higher when individuals take it with other substances [8].
Cases of psychosis have been documented as a result of kratom use [9]. Kratom can be fatal — coma, heart attack, and rhabdomyolysis (a rare muscle injury that causes muscles to break down) can happen due to kratom use [10].
What Is Kratom Addiction Treatment?
Kratom addiction treatment is a course of care that helps individuals safely remove kratom from their system and develop skills to sustain abstinence from kratom.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) lowers kratom cravings and withdrawal symptoms; Suboxone has been shown as a promising form of MAT for kratom [6]. MAT takes place alongside evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to address the root causes of addiction.
Medical detox, inpatient and outpatient treatment programs are effective for individuals suffering from kratom addiction. At-home detoxing is not recommended; medical detox can significantly improve comfort and lower the risk of relapse.
When Is Treatment Necessary?
Treatment should be considered if an individual is showing signs of kratom addiction or withdrawal symptoms. If an individual’s behavior has changed to accommodate or seek kratom use, that also suggests treatment is necessary.
There is no specific treatment for kratom addiction, but it follows a similar path to opioid addiction treatment, involving evidence-based therapies and MAT.
Multiple studies reveal that treatment is effective for kratom addiction [11] [12].
Kratom Addiction Treatment At 516 Recovery
Addiction can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t need to define you. If you or a loved one is suffering from a substance use disorder, we can help you heal.
Our addiction treatment programs include Medication-Assisted Treatment to reduce withdrawal symptoms and lower the risk of relapse. We have a team of licensed clinical professionals who prioritize your comfort and well-being and guide you toward stability.
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Sources
[1] Zohar, B. (March 2026). What Is 7-OH? The Emerging Opioid Threat Addiction Professionals Need to Understand in 2026. International Society of Substance Use Professionals.
[2] US Food & Drug Administration. (February 2025). FDA & Kratom. fda.gov.
[3] Mayo Clinic. (June 2024). Kratom: Unsafe and ineffective. mayoclinic.org.
[4] Palamar, J. (August 2021). Past-Year Kratom Use in the U.S.: Estimates From a Nationally Representative Sample. American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
[5] Smith, K. et al. (December 2024). The rise of novel, semi-synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine products. Addiction. Volume 120, Issue 2.
[6] Bin Abdullah, M. (2020). Kratom Dependence and Treatment Options: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature. Current Drug Targets.
[7] WDBJ7 News. (April 2026). Target 7: Recovering addict warns about 7-OH: “It’s truly destroying people’s lives”. wdbj7.com.
[8] California Department of Public Health. (January 2026). Kratom and 7-OH may lead to addiction, serious harm, overdose or death. cdph.gov.
[9] Department of Justice/Drug Enforcement Administration. (2020). Drug Fact Sheet. Kratom. dea.gov.
[10] Sangani, V. et al. (March 2021). Unusual Presentation of Kratom Overdose With Rhabdomyolysis, Transient Hearing Loss, and Heart Failure. Journal of Investigative Medicine.
[11] Kalin, S. et al. (2020). Treatment for kratom abuse in a contingency-management-based MAT setting: A case series. Journal of Opioid Management.
[12] Broyan, V. et al. (February 2022). Long-term buprenorphine treatment for kratom use disorder: A case series. Substance Abuse. Volume 43. Issue 1.
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