Kratom Addiction: Risks, Withdrawal, and Concentrated 7-OH
As kratom products gain popularity, an increasing number of individuals are reporting mild to moderate drug addictions.
Kratom leaves are obtained from a tropical tree—Mitragyna speciosa—that grows abundantly in Southeast Asia. These leaves contain psychoactive properties, meaning that kratom is a substance capable of altering the mind.
While the opioid epidemic has received widespread attention, kratom addiction, or kratom use disorder, is also a growing concern. The Food and Drug Administration issued a public health advisory in 2017 due to risks associated with kratom use. Kratom’s abuse potential, dependence, and addiction can be worrisome [1, 2].
Many people struggle to quit kratom once they’ve become dependent on it. However, treatment is available to help overcome dependence and addiction to kratom. Read on to learn more about the risks of this new drug and how to get help with kratom addiction.
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How Addictive Is Kratom?
Kratom can be mildly to moderately addictive, especially when used frequently or in high doses over time. Research suggests that kratom’s addictive potential is lower than that of traditional opioids but not negligible, especially for individuals using it to self-medicate or manage pain. The risk increases with long-term use and with concentrated forms.
While some users report mild or manageable dependence, others experience symptoms similar to opioid dependence, such as cravings, irritability, muscle aches, insomnia, and anxiety when stopping use. Because kratom acts on opioid receptors in the brain, it can lead to physical and psychological addiction in some users.
While kratom remains legal at the federal level in the U.S., some states and local governments have already banned or restricted its use due to dependency issues [6]. The DEA has called it a “drug of concern” in the US [4]. There is a lot of dangerous misinformation surrounding the drug, leading to many people becoming unintentionally hooked on it.
Although often marketed as a natural or safe remedy for pain, anxiety, or opioid withdrawal, growing clinical evidence suggests kratom carries a risk of dependence, adverse health effects, and misuse. For some, kratom ends up functioning as a replacement addictive substance rather than a solution, leading to new patterns of dependence and the eventual question of how to stop taking it.
Recent research suggests that not all kratom products on the market today resemble traditional leaf preparations. In fact, changes in product formulation may help explain why some individuals report stronger dependence and more intense withdrawal symptoms than expected.
From Botanical Supplement to Synthetic Opioid? The Rise of 7-OH Products
Traditionally, kratom comes from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree. When chewed or brewed as tea, these leaves contain only trace amounts of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) — typically less than 2% of total alkaloids and often around 0.01–0.04% by weight.
In traditional use, most exposure to 7-OH occurs slowly through the body’s natural metabolic conversion process, which limits how much reaches the bloodstream at one time. However, beginning in 2024, the U.S. market saw a noticeable shift in the types of products being sold under the name “kratom.”
A structured marketplace review conducted between late 2024 and early 2025 identified more than 300 distinct 7-OH products, with over 80% containing isolated 7-OH rather than whole-leaf material [7]. In other words, many newer products are chemically concentrated versions of one compound rather than traditional plant preparations.
More than one-third of these products were marketed with functional health claims, such as pain relief or anxiety reduction. They were sold in forms designed for faster absorption, including:
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Sublingual tablets
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Gummies or chewables
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Liquid “shots” or syrups
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Nasal sprays
Some of these formats are designed to partially bypass first-pass metabolism, which is the liver’s initial filtering process after a substance is swallowed. This may increase the amount of active compound that enters circulation more quickly.
The confusion for consumers lies in the blending of a botanical supplement with a concentrated opioid-like compound. 7-OH is a μ-opioid receptor agonist, meaning it activates the same primary receptor targeted by drugs like morphine. Laboratory models have found that 7-OH demonstrates greater functional potency than mitragynine and, in some experimental settings, exceeds morphine’s analgesic strength [7].
This evidence was further confirmed in animal studies, which showed opioid-like effects, including:
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Respiratory depression
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Tolerance
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Dependence
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Withdrawal
Public health data, while still limited, reflects growing concern. In Texas, poison center reports increased from 107 kratom-related exposures in 2024 to 192 in 2025 (year-to-date). Of those, 19 involved concentrated 7-OH products, and 11 required medical treatment. Pennsylvania health data has reported 81 cases of significant illness, 25 instances requiring naloxone administration, and 14 cases requiring mechanical ventilation. While these numbers remain far lower than traditional opioid overdose statistics, the trend and severity of some cases have prompted state-level alerts [7].
Kratom is often culturally compared to cannabis and marketed as a natural supplement, which can lower perceived risk. However, concentrated 7-OH formulations may carry a different addiction profile. Higher-potency products are associated with:
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Faster tolerance development
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More intense withdrawal symptoms
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Stronger reinforcement and cravings
As availability expands and formulations diversify, some users report stronger dependence than expected.
Understanding the difference between botanical kratom and concentrated 7-OH helps explain why certain products may carry greater addiction and withdrawal risks. To fully understand that risk, it’s important to look at how kratom’s active compounds interact directly with the brain.
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Why Is Kratom Addictive?
Kratom is addictive because it contains active compounds (mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine) that bind to the opioid receptors in the brain. These receptors are the same ones affected by drugs like morphine and heroin, which regulate pain, mood, and feelings of pleasure.
When taken regularly or in high doses, kratom can:
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Mimic opioid-like effects, such as euphoria and sedation.
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Trigger dopamine release, reinforcing repeated use.
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Cause physical dependence, where the body adapts to the drug and withdrawal occurs when it’s stopped
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Lead to psychological cravings, especially in those self-medicating for pain, anxiety, or depression.
Over time, this interaction with brain chemistry can make users reliant on kratom to feel “normal,” leading to tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal symptoms, which are all hallmarks of addiction.
How Long Does It Take to Get Addicted to Kratom?
There’s no exact timeline for how long it takes to get addicted to kratom, as it depends on several individual factors. However, addiction can develop in as little as a few weeks with frequent or high-dose use.
Factors that influence how quickly addiction may develop include:
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Dosage and frequency: Using kratom multiple times a day or in large amounts increases risk.
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Potency of product: Stronger strains or extracts (especially concentrates) increase the risk of dependence.
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Individual biology: People with a history of substance use or mental health conditions may become dependent faster.
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Reason for use: Using kratom to self-medicate for pain, anxiety, or withdrawal increases psychological dependence.
Some users report developing tolerance and mild withdrawal symptoms within 1–2 weeks of daily use. Others may not feel addicted for months but still develop physical dependence over time.
How to Quit Kratom Addiction
If you’ve become dependent on kratom, you’re not alone—and quitting can be challenging. The process often comes with uncomfortable symptoms such as mood changes (including depression, anxiety, restlessness, and irritability), muscle and joint pain, a runny nose, insomnia, diarrhea, decreased appetite, tremors, itching, chills, and difficulty concentrating. These symptoms can make quitting feel overwhelming, but with the right support, it is possible to break free.
Here are some helpful steps to begin your recovery:
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Seek professional help: Start by consulting a healthcare provider or addiction specialist. They can guide you through a safe tapering process, provide personalized care, and may recommend medication-assisted treatment if needed to manage symptoms.
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Set a quit date: Choose a specific date to stop using kratom. This gives you a target to work toward and helps you mentally prepare.
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Create a support system: Surround yourself with supportive friends, family, or peers. Consider joining a support group specifically for kratom or substance use recovery.
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Gradually taper off: Reducing your dosage slowly can help minimize uncomfortable symptoms and make the process more manageable than quitting cold turkey.
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Develop healthy coping mechanisms: Replace kratom use with healthy outlets for stress—like movement, creativity, mindfulness, or social connection.
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Stay accountable and motivated: Track your progress in a journal or app, remind yourself of why you want to quit, and celebrate small milestones.
Quitting any substance is not easy. Getting treatment from an addiction counselor or recovery program can help you stop using kratom safely. Finding the support you need for quitting kratom may be the difference in you being able to put down the drug for good.
We’re passionate about helping you overcome addiction because we’ve been there. With founders and many staff having gone through recovery themselves, our evidence-based treatment programs are built on a foundation of empathy & a desire to see you succeed.
Kratom Addiction Treatment at Renaissance Recovery
At Renaissance Recovery, we are committed to tackling the urgent challenge of kratom addiction. Our specialized outpatient treatment programs are designed to support you in achieving long-term recovery.
Discover the tailored support and comprehensive structure that suits your needs by exploring our range of outpatient treatment options. At Renaissance, we believe in a holistic and evidence-based approach to addiction treatment.
All addictions are different, so all our treatment programs offer personalized therapies like
If you are looking for kratom addiction help, reach out to our admissions team at 866-330-9449. We can help you embark on your journey to a healthier, happier future.
Sources
[1] https://www.jwatch.org/fw113538/2017/11/15/fda-warns-against-use-kratom
[2] https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/fda-and-kratom
[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32722734/
[4] https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2025-01/Kratom-Drug-Fact-Sheet.pdf
[5] https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/psychiatric-clinics-of-north-america/vol/45/issue/3?utm_source=chatgpt.com
[6] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32722734/
[7]https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13880209.2025.2590311?scroll=top&needAccess=true#d1e797
