In Mississippi, we have an opportunity to keep the herbal supplement kratom legal so that adults who are 21 years or older can still access it while young people are protected. Kratom, which comes from the leaves of a tree that grows in Southeast Asia, can be misused. But for most people who use it, the effect is similar to a strong cup of coffee with significant reported health benefits.
Banning kratom will do nothing but empower criminal enterprises to sell contaminated versions of it on the underground market and hurt law-abiding citizens who just want to use an herbal supplement for their health.
Crystal – a 44-year-old homeschooling mom who has chronic pain from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Hypothyroidism. She’s been using kratom to manage her pain and help her be active for 10 years.
Anthony G. – An Iraq War veteran with the US Army who has used kratom for 6 years to help him stop using opioids after chronic pain from his military service and his profession as a home inspector.
Sarah – Waitress who has fibromyalgia and extensive nerve damage. She was only able to manage a part-time job before finding kratom, her chronic pain was so debilitating. After she found kratom, it manages her pain so she can work 6 days a week to provide for her family.
Dennis – A retired man in his late 60s who suffers with severe arthritis from years of working with a jackhammer and pressure valves. Before kratom he wore elastic pants, velcro shoes, and his wife had to button his shirts for him because he couldn’t even dress himself, his hands were so stiff and swollen. With kratom, he’s back to taking care of himself and able to tie his shoes, button his jeans, and hold a knife and fork to feed himself. He’s even working part-time for his son to fill his retirement days and he loves it.
Justin F. – He’s a 47-year-old who pays his taxes and has used kratom for 10 years to mitigate chronic pain from a hip that needs to be replaced. It allows him to work and provide for his family.
Sean H. – Opioid user for 18 years. “By 2010, I stopped leaving my house and retreated from life in general, had no friends unless they helped me score pills, and didn’t even try to be in a relationship, had no interest in any aspect of life, I may as well have been dead…Friday, April 13, 2018 at 1:00 PM was the last time I took an opiate. With the help of kratom, I took my life back.” Sean has since gotten a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, lost 160 pounds, and works full-time in civil service.
Tracy F. – Fell down the steps at an apartment complex 8 years ago, hitting the concrete chin first. Severe damage to her jaw. “Felt like I had been punched in both sides of my face every single day for years…all the many doctors, surgeons, dentists and oral surgeons that I have seen all told me the same thing. They all said that they had never seen anything this bad and they couldn’t help me…I prayed to God every day to please just give me one day off from pain. Just one day…Now I have been taking kratom for 6 years now and my life couldn’t be better…I can now smile, eat, talk, sleep, and now, no pain…It is really nice to be able to just smile again…Please don’t ever force me to go back to live that bad way of life again…the bonus also for me is I don’t drink alcohol anymore.” Today, Tracy is happily married and enjoys helping other people trapped in chronic pain find relief with kratom.
Rob – Hit by a car while riding his bike to work when he was 16 and has suffered with chronic pain since then. He used opioids and became addicted, has been using kratom for 10 years and got off the opioids. It deals with his pain and he’s back to his old self again.
Bud S. – 17 years of prescription medication misuse trying to find relief from anxiety, PTSD, and ADHD symptoms. He found kratom 8 years ago. “My family, including my four children, can attest to the positive impact kratom has had on my life. I’m grateful for the stability and success I’ve achieved, including purchasing a home and providing for my family. Kratom has been a vital component of my recovery journey, and I firmly believe it should be accessible to anyone who, like me, has struggled to find effective treatment through conventional means.”
Wayne M. – His alcohol addiction left him homeless 8 years ago. He found kratom and has been able to stop drinking. “All 3 of my mother’s brothers lost [their battle with alcohol] in their early 40s, and there was times in my life, I honestly didn’t think I would make it past that age either, but praise be to God that I’m here and have a wonderful life.” Wayne’s aging father lives in Mississippi and Wayne was planning to move down here to take care of him. If he can’t get kratom, though, he’ll have to move his father out of state. It’s too important to him to stay off alcohol and protect his health.
Carrie H. – She uses kratom to relieve excruciating foot pain. Her cousin used it to get off opioids after 10 years. Her mom uses it to help her sleep after cancer treatment. Her cousin uses it for degenerative disc disease in her back. Her brother-in-law is a veteran and uses it for chronic pain that the VA could not effectively treat.
Magnolia Tribune also published the personal story of Lisha Adcock who lives in Meridian, MS, in an article called Kratom Gave Me My Life Back.
Talking to your leaders about the harm of prohibiting yet another drug is important. It’s one way to come alongside suffering adults and advocate for their right to use a natural supplement to improve their quality of life.
If you want more information about kratom or the work to keep it legal in Mississippi, you can email us at info@enditforgood.com. We’re always happy to talk. So many people have asked, “What can we do to help this cause?” Today, this is it.
We got an email this week from a man whose father was sentenced to 10 years in prison because of the fear stoked by misinformation that led to kratom being criminalized in his home state of Arkansas. He died three weeks later from blunt force trauma in prison. If that makes you angry, it should. It’s wrong.
Let’s make sure that never happens again. First in Mississippi, then across the country.