Get Convenient Help to Come Off Kratom in the OC
Trying kratom can be tempting, especially with it being legal in several states. In small doses, it’s said to have mind-boosting and energizing effects. In larger doses, kratom works as a sedative.
Unfortunately, as we see every day with alcohol, even substances deemed legal have the potential for addiction. Kratom activates the opioid receptors in the brain. When you start relying on the feeling kratom produces to feel “normal,” it’s easy to fall into the cycle of addiction.
When you’re looking for kratom detox in Orange County, it’s important to choose a supportive, safe environment where you can focus on healing.
South Shores Detox has convenient locations in Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano. Our kratom addiction treatment centers are located right on the beach, the perfect setting to allow our clients to focus on recovery.
What is All the Commotion About Kratom?
In several states around the US, kratom is readily available in tobacco shops and health food stores. It is made from the leaves of the Kratom tree, native to South Asia. While it is not legal in every state, it is not yet considered a controlled substance.
Kratom is available as a liquid extract, as well as tablet, capsule, and powdered forms. People native to the area may even chew on the fresh leaves from the plant.
While the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hasn’t always had a strong stance on kratom use, it is considered a Drug and Chemical of Concern. Kratom has a strong potential for abuse and can lead to other types of substance use disorders, especially opioid addiction.
Kratom is “of concern” according to the DEA because of the risk of addiction and side effects. Some people also experience unwanted psychotic symptoms after use, including severe psychological symptoms like hallucinations and psychosis.
What to Expect During Kratom Detox at South Shores
At South Shores, we work hard to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and help you manage cravings. You’ll work closely with a team of medical professionals who will minimize withdrawal symptoms and ease discomfort.
Managing Kratom Withdrawal Symptoms
Our medical staff is available 24/7 for clients during medical detox. As part of our medical detox programs, we make clients feel safe and comfortable.
When using psychoactive substances like kratom, tapering is sometimes recommended to wean yourself off kratom and reduce the risk of severe withdrawal symptoms.
Medication-assisted treatment can help people who experience withdrawal symptoms after quitting kratom. However, it’s important to be honest about dosages and the use of alcohol, opioid drugs, and other substances to avoid potentially dangerous drug interactions.
Kratom Withdrawal Symptoms
Kratom withdrawal produces physical and mental symptoms that can be unpleasant to deal with. It is also possible to experience pain and worsening mental health issues if you were using kratom to numb these things.
Physical kratom withdrawal symptoms are typically moderate. You might experience gastrointestinal upset, fatigue, low energy, muscle aches, and restlessness. These are similar to opioid withdrawal symptoms since kratom activates opioid receptors.
Common withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, irritability, and drug cravings. In some cases, severe psychiatric symptoms including delusions, confusion, and hallucinations can occur. These are more likely in people with pre-existing mental health conditions.
At South Shores, we help clients manage withdrawal symptoms as part of the medical detox process. We provide encouragement in a safe, drug-free environment where you can focus on healing.
Kratom Withdrawal Timeline
Kratom withdrawal occurs after using it for so long that your body develops a dependence, and then suddenly stops being given the substance it is depending on.
Factors that affect withdrawal symptoms and cravings include polysubstance use, long-term kratom abuse, high doses, genetics, and health history.
Fortunately, kratom withdrawal is not as intense or long-lasting as withdrawal from alcohol or opioid medications. The onset usually starts within 12 hours to a day of your last dose. Symptoms typically last up to 3 days but can last a week or longer.
Is Kratom Withdrawal Dangerous?
Typically, kratom withdrawal does not produce as severe symptoms as opiates such as heroin. However, this can change for people who have used kratom for a long time, mixed it with alcohol or other substances, or have pre-existing health conditions.
In particular, the mental health and depression aspects of kratom withdrawal can be particularly hard to cope with, particularly for those with pre-existing issues.
Long-Term Effects of Kratom Use
Even legal substances like nicotine, tobacco, and kratom can have adverse health effects when you use them for an extended period. Since kratom is not approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to treat any medical conditions, it is not regulated.
FDA-approved medications must meet certain safety standards. Without regulation, manufacturers do not have to pass these standards. They do not have to prove the long-term safety of using this drug.
Long-term kratom use has the potential to cause psychiatric, neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal effects.
There’s also a high risk of developing substance use disorder, as well as adverse effects like liver toxicity, seizures, and worsening mental health disorders.
Is Kratom Addictive?
Research suggests that kratom affects the same receptors in the brain as opioid medication, heroin, and other opiates.
While it does not have the same negative consequences on breathing as opioids, its depressant effects increase the risk of other types of drug addiction including alcohol dependence and opioid use disorder.
Treating Underlying Conditions
You may turn to kratom to alleviate symptoms of severe depression, anxiety, pain, unresolved trauma, or chronic stress. When it seems effective, you’ll find yourself craving that relief. This is how the cycle of addiction begins.
While kratom is not as strong as heroin or oxycodone, it does have opioid-like effects. These effects can lead to kratom addiction and symptoms similar to opioid dependence.
At South Shores Detox, we believe that it’s equally important to treat kratom dependence and the underlying conditions that led to frequent use.
This could include medical treatment for underlying physical health conditions or working with mental health professionals for trauma or existing mental health problems.
Dual Diagnosis Programs
Underlying and co-occurring conditions are common in people struggling with kratom misuse. This might include moderate to severe chronic pain, underlying trauma, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, and co-occurring substance use disorders.
Some people also struggle with polysubstance use, meaning they are addicted to more than one substance.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), treating these underlying mental disorders or health conditions is an essential part of treating kratom dependence or addiction.
If you break free from drug dependence without treating underlying physical and mental health symptoms, there is a much higher chance of relapse after leaving a kratom detox program.
South Shores Detox offers dual diagnosis treatment across all inpatient residential rehab and outpatient treatment programs. Treating co-occurring kratom misuse, drug and alcohol dependence, mental health conditions, and physical health conditions is essential for relapse prevention.
Therapy and Skill Building
During our outpatient and residential programs, you’ll work with a team of people committed to helping you overcome kratom addiction and opioid withdrawal.
During one-on-one therapy sessions, you’ll receive personalized guidance and begin to truly understand behavioral addiction. You’ll learn to combat negative thought patterns and how thinking shapes your life. Other skills include managing stress, coping with cravings, maintaining motivation, and making time for self-care and relaxation.
Group therapy is also recommended as part of kratom addiction treatment. Group therapy helps build social skills and foster a sense of connection that’s important during the healing process. It provides a safe space where you can talk about challenges and triumphs among people familiar with what you are going through.
Healthy Habits and Self-Care
Research shows that your lifestyle can contribute to your ability (or inability) to stay sober after rehab. Doing things like getting adequate nutrition, sleeping enough, being physically active, and staying hydrated have benefits for your body, mind, and sobriety. Many people in addiction recovery also benefit from a structured schedule.
It’s also important to develop hobbies, make time for relaxation, and practice self-care.
At South Shores, we offer recreational activities including music therapy, art therapy, tennis, swimming, surf therapy, meditation, and yoga on the beach. It’s easy to develop hobbies that you can use as positive coping mechanisms after completing our rehab program.
Continuing with Recovery After Treatment
Addiction is considered a chronic, lifelong condition with the potential to have flare-ups at any time in your life. This is why establishing support and building on what you learned during rehab is so important.
Narcotics Anonymous Support Groups
Support is an essential part of recovering from kratom use. Here are some Narcotics Anonymous groups that help with stimulant abuse, opioid addiction, kratom misuse, and any other substance use disorder in Orange County:
- Santa Ana Alano Club – 1752 S. Main St., Santa Ana, CA
- Costa Mesa Alano Club – 2040 Placentia Ave., Costa Mesa, CA
- Anaheim Alano – 202 W. Broadway, Anaheim, CA
- Huntington Beach Community Church – 401 Sixth St., Huntington Beach, CA
- Life Church – 2516 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, CA
Even after you treat kratom addiction, there’s a risk of future drug abuse. The effects of kratom can be similar to opioids in big doses, making it critical to develop support for treating addiction.
SMART Recovery Meetings
SMART Recovery is considered an effective treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. You can find meetings at these places in Orange County:
- Kaiser Irvine Medical Center – 6640 Alton Parkway Medical, Building 2, Irvine, CA
- Center for Inquiry West – 2535 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA
- 1849 Sawtelle Blvd. #100, Los Angeles, CA
- Covenant Behavior Health – 851 S. Mt. Vernon Ave, Ste. 7A, Colton, CA
SMART is an evidence-based program that we use as part of kratom addiction at South Shores. Its major goals include finding motivation for staying sober, managing emotions, thinking, and behavior, learning coping skills for overcoming kratom use, and leading a lifestyle that supports recovery.
Get Help Overcoming Kratom Withdrawal at South Shores
Not every treatment facility offers the high standard of evidence-based care that you’ll find at South Shores Detox. Decide to stop struggling today.
At ‘the Shores, you’ll work closely with a team of mental and medical health professionals, case managers, and other people with your best interest at heart. We want to see all of our clients succeed, both at our facility and once they return home. This is why we work so hard to set you up for success.
Don’t hesitate to reach out. We can answer any questions you may have about medical detox and other treatment options, verify your insurance, or set up an appointment for intake right over the phone. Take back control of your life today!
References
- https://pure.johnshopkins.edu/en/publications/assessment-of-kratom-use-disorder-and-withdrawal-among-an-online-
- https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/kratom#kratom-compounds
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9130800/
- https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/fda-and-kratom
- https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Kratom-2020_0.pdf
- https://www.datafiles.samhsa.gov/publication/kratom-use-categories-and-their-associations-co-occurring-substance-use-and-mental