The Truth About Kratom: One Man’s Story and What It Means for Sobriety
What Is Kratom and Why Does It Matter
Over the last several years, kratom has quietly infiltrated smoke shops and gas stations across the country. Sold in capsules, powders, tiny liquid extracts, and tablets, it’s often promoted as “natural,” “legal,” and a “safe alternative” to opioids.
At The Wheelhouse, we’ve been hearing more and more questions about kratom. As a recovery community dedicated to truth and healing, we believe these questions deserve honest, informed answers.
What Is Kratom?
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Its leaves contain compounds that interact with the brain’s opioid receptors, meaning they can produce stimulant effects in small doses and sedative, opioid-like effects in larger ones.
Forms of consumption in the U.S. include:
Capsules, pills or tablets
Powdered leaves in teas or food
Liquid extracts and shots
Despite being legal in many places, kratom is not approved by the FDA for any medical use. The agency has flagged kratom as a substance of concern, warning about risks including liver toxicity and dependency.
7-OH – A Dangerous Twist on an Old Drug
The natural kratom leaf itself poses risks, but things have become even more dangerous with the rise of synthetically altered compounds like 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH).
Synthetic 7-OH products, often sold under the guise of “kratom”, are not naturally present in meaningful amounts in the kratom leaf. Instead, these products are artificially enhanced to magnify their psychoactive effects, pushing them far beyond the potency of what nature ever intended.
Why 7-OH Is So Dangerous
7-OH is a full opioid receptor agonist, meaning it activates the brain's opioid system in the same way heroin or fentanyl does.
It can cause respiratory depression, intense dependency, and overdose.
These products are frequently mislabeled and sold as safe, “natural” kratom, misleading consumers into underestimating their danger.
Lab reports show synthetic 7-OH concentrations can exceed 100mg per serving, compared to trace amounts in real kratom leaves.
The FDA and the National Institute on Drug Abuse have made it clear: these synthetic and semi-synthetic kratom products are not safe alternatives. They are radically different and far more lethal.
A Personal Story—Kratom Use, Addiction, and Recovery
To understand the real impact of kratom and 7-OH, we spoke with Mitch, a man who recently completed detoxing and Phase One of our program at The Wheelhouse.
At first, he used ground leaf capsules. Over time, his use escalated to 100 tablets of 7-OH Kratom a day, costing him around $400 every two days.
How did you get started using Kratom?
Mitch: I picked up two Kratom pills off the floor of my house. Someone was using them. I wanted to see what the effect was so that maybe I could help them. And then I was at the store in thirty minutes, wanting more.
How did you buy it in stores?
Mitch: Pills in powder by the 100s from smoke shops, and then liquid, and then tablets. When I bought it as an extract, it came in a small bottle. Says it mellows you out, calms anxiety, and it's all bullshit. I eventually started buying packages of 7-OH, 7-hydroxy tablets.
How many were you taking of the 7-OH tablets?
Mitch: I was spending $400 every two to four days on the 7-OH Kratom, sometimes 100 tablets a day. I kept them in my pocket and ate them like candy all day.
What side effects did you experience?
Mitch: Painful. Sometimes I tried to go fifteen, maybe thirty minutes before needing more. I tried to detox at home, but couldn't make it through because it was so painful. Your head messes with you. I tried Medical Detox twice. I was sober only a month each time. When you’re detoxing, it feels like living in a bad dream. Body hurts, yeah, but the mind is so screwed up.
How did you make it through detoxing this time?
Mitch: The brotherhood at The Wheelhouse.
Kratom’s Place in Recovery – It Doesn’t Belong
Kratom feels like a gray area in many recovery communities. It’s legal. It doesn’t always show up on drug tests. It’s marketed alongside protein powder and energy drinks. So, does it “count” as using?
At The Wheelhouse, our answer is: yes. It does “count” as using.
Recovery means freedom from all mind- or mood-altering substances, not prescribed. Just because something is legal or plant-based doesn’t mean it supports your recovery.
Why Kratom Undermines Recovery
It can replace one addiction with another, reactivating old neural pathways.
It creates dependence, both psychological and physical.
It confuses boundaries, making it harder to define sobriety and accountability.
We’ve seen too many men come through our doors struggling with kratom. Some thought it would help with anxiety or cravings. Others believed it was “better” than their old drugs of choice. All of the men who come to us come dependent on it; most became dependent without realizing it at first.
At The Wheelhouse, our program is built on:
Accountability: Truth-telling and structure
Community: Support from men who’ve been there
Faith and 12 Steps: Spiritual guidance and honesty
Goals and Purpose: Life beyond addiction
A Call for Awareness and Action
If you or someone you care about is using kratom—especially synthetic versions enhanced with 7-OH—don’t wait until it becomes a full-blown crisis. Kratom is not a harmless herbal supplement for those with an addictive nature. It’s a potent, addictive substance that can derail recovery and damage lives.
You don’t have to fight this alone. Contact The Wheelhouse today. There’s no shame in asking for help.