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The CDC has reinforced warnings about the herbal supplement kratom after dozens of deaths in recent years have worried health care officials.
The herbal supplement kratom is derived from the kratom tree of Southeast Asia. People can buy it without a prescription in the United States in the form of powder, tea or caffeinated capsule. It is a popular drug for its pain-relieving properties and is often sold as a supposedly safer and "natural" alternative to opioids.
Although this "atypical opioid" can certainly be used for pain relief, it also carries significant risks.
In a report released on Friday, April 12, the Centers for Disease Control updates figures on kratom-related deaths in the United States for the years 2016 to 2017, bringing the number of overdose deaths to 91. Previous figures indicated about 44 deaths since 2011, so it's a slight rise.
Of some 27,338 cases of overdose, 152 people were tested positive for kratom, although this was not the direct cause of death. Health experts say that although kratom is not the real cause of death, it may be a contributing factor because, taken with other medications, it can lead to more complex overdoses to treat.
the report reads. "A coroner or coroner determined that kratom was the cause of 91/153 kratom-positive deaths, including seven for which kratom was the only substance that tested positive in post-mortem toxicology, although presence of excluded. "
"In this analysis, about 80% of kratom-positive or kratom-related deaths were history of substance abuse, and about 90% had no evidence that they were currently receiving medical treatment." against pain. .
As a national drug problem, the more general problem of opioid overdose is still far greater than kratom. Opioids are responsible for 47,600 deaths in 2017 alone. It is important not to exaggerate the current role of kratom in drug-related mortality, but health experts are concerned that the popularity of kratom appears to be increasing.
Kratom is especially popular among people with a history of addiction, not just addiction to pain medication. This may indicate that its effects similar to those of opioids are something that people can look for if they are previous addicts.
There is also misinformation about kratom as a way to end opioid dependence "naturally". For this purpose, it is often sold in tea form and is said to mitigate withdrawal symptoms such as cramps and nausea. However, kratom is not a medicine intended or restricted use. It is not regulated and research has not fully verified its effects or explored in the same way as regulated pharmaceutical products.
As a herbal supplement, its dosage and the exact composition of the product may differ from one brand to another. Even with the benefit of the doubt that most brands are trying to provide superior quality to consumers, this regulatory gap can lead to serious problems.
Time reports a link between salmonella-infected kratom and an epidemic that affected more than 41 states in 2018, resulting in 50 hospitalizations.
Kratom has also been associated with heavy metal exposure. A recent FDA report evaluated 30 different kratom products available to the public and found that the majority of them had "significant concentrations of lead and nickel" that exceeded the safety levels set for the product. oral drug ingestion. Prolonged exposure to heavy metals can lead to damage to the nervous system and increased risk of cancer, among other health problems.
Earlier, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb had warned that the use of kratom seemed to be gaining popularity as a means of dealing with opioid problems, but that it presented risks.
"At a time when we have reached a critical point in the epidemic of opioids, the increasing use of kratom as an alternative or supplement to the use of". opioids is extremely worrying, "Gottlieb explained in a press release. "It is very worrisome for the FDA that patients believe they can use kratom to treat opioid withdrawal symptoms. … There is no reliable evidence to support the use of kratom as a treatment for opioid use disorder. "
The main objective of the CDC and FDA warnings is to hide a darker reality under the idea of kratom as a "natural" supplement for pain relief: it is an unregulated and potentially life-threatening substance that due to insufficient monitoring, poses a real risk. users, especially if they are taking opioids.
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Photo credit: Getty Images.
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