DEA States The natural herb Kratom An Imminent Hazard to Public Safety

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 09, 2018 -- A new story published by The Recover talks controversy regarding the FDA’s decision to classify the herbal supplement Kratom as an opioid. After months of public comments and a computer-generated model study showing the herb has potential for abuse, the potential ruling has sparked an uproar in the research community. Saying that the computer-generated report was not thorough enough and made generalizations that can harm the potential positive uses for the drug.

DEA States The natural herb Kratom An Imminent Hazard to Public Safety

Kratom is a natural herb that is derived from South Asia, similar to heroin’s origins. The leaf extracts are used both as a stimulant and as a sedative, depending on the dose. The active ingredients are the alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, which have shown evidence of pain relieving and anti-inflammatory effects. It’s commonly used to treat fibromyalgia and diabetes. Its leaves are dried and fortified into powders and then made into pill form, or brewed like a tea. The different strands are used for different ailments and have different purposes when ingested. Treatments range from Diabetes blood sugar management, use as an Immune system booster, and most commonly as an opioid withdrawal aid.

Researchers from both North Carolina and Florida say the FDA did not compile acceptable research to be able to classify the drug the same schedule as heroin, LSD or Ecstasy. "They make a lot of hay of using a computer model, but it's really nice to validate the findings with actual science… Just because it binds, it doesn't mean it has the same efficacy (as an opioid)” Says Scott Hemby of the Department of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences at High Point University in North Carolina.

Researchers agree the alkaloids contained in Kratom to bind to receptors the way opioids do, but at a milder level. The plant as whole has a much smaller potential for abuse than the alkaloids themselves.

The Recover lists treatment centers around the country along with information about substance abuse and mental health. Read the original story here https://www.therecover.com/researchers-fighting-fdas-decision-kratom/

Author: Kevin Leonard
Organization: TheRecover.com
Address: 27420 Jefferson Ave, Temecula, CA 92590
Phone: 888-510-3898

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/36e5c7d7-8b3e-4493-bbcf-75a24855fced