The Scientist Trying to Keep Kratom Legal Has Not Disclosed Longstanding Ties to Kratom Lobbyists
www.propublica.org
University of Florida professor Christopher McCurdy has accepted travel reimbursements, donations to his university’s foundation and funding for symposiums from the American Kratom Association. None of this is mentioned in the papers he publishes.
  • interrobang@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    7·
    4 days ago

    I’ve used it to lessen my use of Adderall for narcolepsy and it’s been a lifesaver.

    I mixed about 2 tsp into water in the afternoon when I’m dragging, rather than taking more prescription stimulant. I use it between 1-3 times a week for at least 5 years, with several month long breaks in this time.

    I think the weird derivative chemicals from it are probably dangerous, but I personally haven’t experienced any problems with routine kratom use. I only use the powdered plant form I order from a reputable source, not the gas station drinks with synthetic versions.

    • some_kind_of_guy@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      4 days ago

      Similar story here - it undoubtedly has improved my quality of life. I too use it as a kind of “herbal adderall”, and only use plain leaf powder from a trusted vendor with many years in the business who provides testing data and tests every single incoming batch for contaminants.

      It has addictive qualities, sure, but the safety profile is similar to coffee or cannabis. The benefits, for me at least, far outweigh any risks, which are minimal to begin with.

  • DanceMomsSavedMe@lemmy.zipEnglish
    7·
    5 days ago

    Just like any other drug, if you use it every single day you’re going to get addicted and have problems.

    Its hard to feel sorry for someone who does that. Learn some self control. I’ve been through heroin withdrawals in my youth as well as the seizures that come with benzo withdrawals and I figured out before I was 19 “huh, it seems like if I take these drugs every day I’m going to get addicted”

    Its common sense.

    It really is not that hard to skip a couple days here and there even if you’re a fiend. And if you’re a poly drug addict just switch drugs every 3 days or so. I did that for a time after 19 and I did it heavy and had zero withdrawals when I quit doing it that way. So there’s really no excuse for that shit. Learn how to control your addictions or go to rehab.

    The drug war sure isn’t working though, is it? The courts ruin way more lives than addiction does.

    Idk what the answer is but this prohibition across the board is stupid and doesn’t actually help anyone.

    I find myself hating the physical drugs existence less and less and hating the addict who lacks any modicum of self control more and more as time goes on. Go through the withdrawals and move on, no excuse.

    There seems to be a significant percentage of the population that needs its hand held for every single thing. That’s why we can’t get OTC antibiotics, that’s why they won’t prescribe pain pills anymore to people who need them, that’s why they have created a prison system that is the most filled per capita of any country even though we aren’t even close to the size of others. People who lack self control have ruined it for others who know how to manage medications/drugs effectively and not do it every single day and then act surprised when they start having withdrawals.

    I know people who can’t get pain medicine (again because of all the fucking addicts who lack any self control ruining it for everyone else) and kratom and 7OH is all they have to manage that pain. So of course its going to be demonized. Can’t have people being helped if it can make them feel warm and tingly as a side effect.

    • WesternInfidels@feddit.onlineEnglish
      9·
      4 days ago

      I think you should be applauded for, and encouraged to, share your experiences. But they are your experiences, not universal experiences.

      The fact that people do get addicted to things all the time would suggest that the “self-control” picture isn’t as simple as all that.

      Some people who get addicted to a drug, or to gambling, or to other things, are, to all appearances, accomplished, capable, put-together people with settled lives. People who clearly have demonstrated self-control in other contexts.

    • HubertManne@piefed.socialEnglish
      4·
      4 days ago

      Yeah this feels very much like margeawanna talk from the 80’s and people seem to be drinking the koolaid.

    • BreadOven@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      4 days ago

      Fuck off with some of those opinions. Everyone is different, generalizing like you’re doing is toxic. You’ve had your experiences, you can’t compare those to others.

  • xep@discuss.onlineEnglish
    2·
    4 days ago

    Isn’t this business as usual? The food and pharmaceutical industries do this all the time.

  • myyass@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    4 days ago

    This kind of stuff becomes more interesting when you take in account that not everyone functions the same.

    For me, it didn’t really do much other than tingle my tongue. My buddies though it was amazing. But I also have a very high opioid tolerance; I would take 40-60 mg of oxy for physical therapy briefly, when it was supposed to be 5 mg every four hours, to get my leg back into working condition, the surgeon was surprised that I regained all of my function in a month. That’s after having a bunch of screws and a metal rod jammed inside of my leg for context. They gave me tramadol as well, which I stopped taking after a few days because I heard screaming and yelling (auditory hallucinations) while on the toilet. Daily Ibuprofen use will make you bleed out your yass. Daily Tylenol use will make your liver die faster than drinking everyday. I’ll be in chronic pain for the rest of my life, but hey I got to keep my leg, so I’ll just have myself a beer.