Kratom Abstinence
Interviewing people in recovery from kratom abuse or addiction, or experts in the field.
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Episodes
Sunday Jan 25, 2026
Sunday Jan 25, 2026
Lily interviews Doreen, a long-term listener from the beginning of the podcast. Doreen is coming on three years off kratom and shares her journey to being kratom free. Hers was a path not as harrowing as many, but still a difficult one, nonetheless.
Before kratom, she had minimal addiction history; only seasonal cigarette smoking in high school that she could easily stop. In January 2022, Doreen underwent a lumbar puncture and desperate for pain relief after medical options failed, someone gave her husband kratom to help. Her use escalated from a teaspoon to tablespoons, multiple times daily. She took it everywhere except work, constantly thinking about her next dose.
A spiritual disconnection became her wake-up call. She tried to quit multiple times, experiencing severe withdrawal: inability to sleep, restless leg syndrome, complete loss of joy, depression, and intense crying. She described it as the worst experience of her life, with no relief day or night. Doreen finally quit in February 2023, with her husband staying by her side through the worst of it.
Tragically, the person who originally gave kratom to her husband later died from kratom use, a loss that motivated Doreen to share her story publicly. She now actively warns others about kratom's dangers, having already prevented at least one coworker from trying it. Her message: kratom may seem harmless and natural, but it's addictive and can destroy lives while keeping its grip hidden from those closest to you.
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https://www.kratommeetings.com
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Voice: 313-437-7720
Email: kratomsobriety@gmail.com
https://kratomsobriety.com
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kratom-addiction/id1685569424
https://www.audible.com/podcast/Kratom-Addiction/B0C3YHDLV5
https://open.spotify.com/show/4GkQiYu6S8IBn8qswyVm00
Sunday Jan 18, 2026
Sunday Jan 18, 2026
** Trigger Warning: discussion of childhood sexual abuse in interview ** Today's guest Greg was sober 18 plus years when he received a free sample of 7-OH at a vape shot. His use escalated, in part because he started buying at wholesale prices and hit a bottom in 10 months. Greg was able to successfully taper off, and it now dedicated to growing KA, a 12-step group focused on kratom:
Home | Kratom Anonymous
https://www.kratom-anonymous.org/
WANT TO TELL YOUR STORY ON THE PODCAST?
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QUITTING KRATOM SUPPORT MEETINGS
https://www.kratommeetings.com
CONNECT WITH US
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CONTACT THE SHOW
Voice: 313-437-7720
Email: kratomsobriety@gmail.com
https://kratomsobriety.com
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kratom-addiction/id1685569424
https://www.audible.com/podcast/Kratom-Addiction/B0C3YHDLV5
https://open.spotify.com/show/4GkQiYu6S8IBn8qswyVm00
Sunday Jan 11, 2026
Sunday Jan 11, 2026
In the open, Lily and Jacob discuss the pitfall of only using the podcast as your sole source of support (don't do it!). In the interview, Britton, a 40-year-old MRI tech and endurance athlete from Colorado, shares his journey from using kratom, including 7OH at the end, for five years to achieving over a year of sobriety through AA's 12-step program. He and Lily explore:
* The isolating nature of kratom addiction;
* The brutal withdrawal process he endured cold turkey;
* A deceptive progression from casual use to physical dependence to disordered consumption with an inability to quit despite a strong desire.
Britton wants to help people - here is his number: 7eight5-2one8-08two4
WANT TO TELL YOUR STORY ON THE PODCAST?
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QUITTING KRATOM SUPPORT MEETINGS
https://www.kratommeetings.com
CONNECT WITH US
https://www.instagram.com/kratomsobriety
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https://www.tiktok.com/@krat0ms0briety
https://www.youtube.com/@KratomSobriety
https://www.facebook.com/kratomsobriety
https://bsky.app/profile/kratomsobriety.bsky.social
https://www.threads.net/@kratomsobriety
CONTACT THE SHOW
Voice: 313-437-7720
Email: kratomsobriety@gmail.com
https://kratomsobriety.com
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kratom-addiction/id1685569424
https://www.audible.com/podcast/Kratom-Addiction/B0C3YHDLV5
https://open.spotify.com/show/4GkQiYu6S8IBn8qswyVm00
Sunday Jan 04, 2026
Sunday Jan 04, 2026
Recently, we've had a trend of welcoming back old guests mostly to celebrate anniversary milestones but in Elliot's case, he is returning to warn about the risk of relapse. After being almost off kratom for three years - June 2022 to March 2025 - Elliot tried 7-OH during a stressful time in his life. After about 9 months, and getting up to 2,000 mg at a cost of $300 day at his extreme, he is now back on track. Elliot's first appearance in May 2023: https://kratomsobriety.podbean.com/e/2-interview-with-elliot/
Checkout the new 12-step group focused on kratom:
Home | Kratom Anonymous
https://www.kratom-anonymous.org/
WANT TO TELL YOUR STORY ON THE PODCAST?
https://forms.gle/VWrjhLSTPHqJyVhw7
QUITTING KRATOM SUPPORT MEETINGS
https://www.kratommeetings.com
CONNECT WITH US
https://www.instagram.com/kratomsobriety
https://twitter.com/kratomsobriety
https://www.tiktok.com/@krat0ms0briety
https://www.youtube.com/@KratomSobriety
https://www.facebook.com/kratomsobriety
https://bsky.app/profile/kratomsobriety.bsky.social
https://www.threads.net/@kratomsobriety
CONTACT THE SHOW
Voice: 313-437-7720
Email: kratomsobriety@gmail.com
https://kratomsobriety.com
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kratom-addiction/id1685569424
https://www.audible.com/podcast/Kratom-Addiction/B0C3YHDLV5
https://open.spotify.com/show/4GkQiYu6S8IBn8qswyVm00
Sunday Dec 28, 2025
Sunday Dec 28, 2025
Kratom was banned in Connecticut and Louisiana this year, as well as in scores of cities. Ohio and California, two big states, are taking significant actions to crack down on kratom in 2025. What are the alternatives? This episode explores a middle-ground approach to kratom regulation that rejects both total bans and weak, industry-written rules. We introduce six common-sense protections, including point-of-sale education, clear medical warnings, behind-the-counter sales, age verification for online purchases, naloxone availability, and strict limits on high-potency extracts. The goal is to make kratom use safer by offering pre-purchase digital counselling, reducing impulsive purchases, protecting youth, and limiting the most addictive and dangerous products while preserving adult access to lower-risk leaf forms. READ MORE: https://kratomsobriety.com/f/middle-ground-kratom-regulations
WANT TO TELL YOUR STORY ON THE PODCAST?
https://forms.gle/VWrjhLSTPHqJyVhw7
QUITTING KRATOM SUPPORT MEETINGS
https://www.kratommeetings.com
CONNECT WITH US
https://www.instagram.com/kratomsobriety
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https://www.tiktok.com/@krat0ms0briety
https://www.youtube.com/@KratomSobriety
https://www.facebook.com/kratomsobriety
https://bsky.app/profile/kratomsobriety.bsky.social
https://www.threads.net/@kratomsobriety
CONTACT THE SHOW
Voice: 313-437-7720
Email: kratomsobriety@gmail.com
https://kratomsobriety.com
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kratom-addiction/id1685569424
https://www.audible.com/podcast/Kratom-Addiction/B0C3YHDLV5
https://open.spotify.com/show/4GkQiYu6S8IBn8qswyVm00
Sunday Dec 21, 2025
Sunday Dec 21, 2025
Jacob and Lily discuss how the hosts let guests tell their story from their point of view, and as a podcast we are not able to vet people before they are interviewed. Ramey celebrates two years off kratom with Natalie. To connect with the meetings discussed in the interview, please visit: https://kratomquitters.com/
WANT TO TELL YOUR STORY ON THE PODCAST?
https://forms.gle/VWrjhLSTPHqJyVhw7
QUITTING KRATOM SUPPORT MEETINGS
https://www.kratommeetings.com
CONNECT WITH US
https://www.instagram.com/kratomsobriety
https://twitter.com/kratomsobriety
https://www.tiktok.com/@krat0ms0briety
https://www.youtube.com/@KratomSobriety
https://www.facebook.com/kratomsobriety
https://bsky.app/profile/kratomsobriety.bsky.social
https://www.threads.net/@kratomsobriety
CONTACT THE SHOW
Voice: 313-437-7720
Email: kratomsobriety@gmail.com
https://kratomsobriety.com
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kratom-addiction/id1685569424
https://www.audible.com/podcast/Kratom-Addiction/B0C3YHDLV5
https://open.spotify.com/show/4GkQiYu6S8IBn8qswyVm00
Sunday Dec 14, 2025
Sunday Dec 14, 2025
Episode focused on quitting kratom with a lockbox as a tool. In the interview this week, Gen-Xer Thomas (long-time primarily a powder user with many attempted quits) describes the challenge as: "Addiction lies to you in your own voice".
Lockbox links (like always we don't get any commissions if you buy one):
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/11/style/lockable-box-container.html
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home-products/g35902030/top-time-locking-containers
https://www.thekitchensafe.com/
A rough estimate of Thomas' end of day dose before he quit:
Three heaping tablespoons of kratom powder ≈ 18–24 grams. Here is how that breaks down:
A) 1 level tablespoon of kratom powder is usually about 5–7 grams
B) A heaping tablespoon is typically 6–8 grams
C) 3 heaping tablespoons → 6–8 g × 3 = 18–24 g
Kratom powder density varies by grind, moisture, and how loosely it is scooped. "Heaping” is very subjective. Some heaps are modest, others are piled high. Volume measures are unreliable for kratom. A digital scale is the only accurate way to know dose. 18–24 grams is considered a very high dose for most people and is well into a range associated with dependence, tolerance escalation, and withdrawal risk.
WANT TO TELL YOUR STORY ON THE PODCAST?
https://forms.gle/VWrjhLSTPHqJyVhw7
QUITTING KRATOM SUPPORT MEETINGS
https://www.kratommeetings.com
CONNECT WITH US
https://www.instagram.com/kratomsobriety
https://twitter.com/kratomsobriety
https://www.tiktok.com/@krat0ms0briety
https://www.youtube.com/@KratomSobriety
https://www.facebook.com/kratomsobriety
https://bsky.app/profile/kratomsobriety.bsky.social
https://www.threads.net/@kratomsobriety
CONTACT THE SHOW
Voice: 313-437-7720
Email: kratomsobriety@gmail.com
https://kratomsobriety.com
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kratom-addiction/id1685569424
https://www.audible.com/podcast/Kratom-Addiction/B0C3YHDLV5
https://open.spotify.com/show/4GkQiYu6S8IBn8qswyVm00
Sunday Dec 07, 2025
Sunday Dec 07, 2025
Episode focused on 7-OH. Dr. Stanciu's credentials:
https://geiselmed.dartmouth.edu/faculty/facultydb/view.php/?uid=7021
Article Charlie & Jazz discuss about 7-OH potency in guinea pig intestines: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0024320505008167
FDA document Dr. Stancui refers to:
https://www.fda.gov/media/187900/download
News article about 7-OH bust from end of open: https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/breaking-bad-on-steroids-palm-bay-brevard-county-florida-drugs-kratom-7-oh-explosives-bust/
WANT TO TELL YOUR STORY ON THE PODCAST?
https://forms.gle/VWrjhLSTPHqJyVhw7
QUITTING KRATOM SUPPORT MEETINGS
https://www.kratommeetings.com
CONNECT WITH US
https://www.instagram.com/kratomsobriety
https://twitter.com/kratomsobriety
https://www.tiktok.com/@krat0ms0briety
https://www.youtube.com/@KratomSobriety
https://www.facebook.com/kratomsobriety
https://bsky.app/profile/kratomsobriety.bsky.social
https://www.threads.net/@kratomsobriety
CONTACT THE SHOW
Voice: 313-437-7720
Email: kratomsobriety@gmail.com
https://kratomsobriety.com
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kratom-addiction/id1685569424
https://www.audible.com/podcast/Kratom-Addiction/B0C3YHDLV5
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Sunday Nov 30, 2025
Sunday Nov 30, 2025
Melanie (episode 110 from January 2025) returns to celebrate a year off 7-OH (quit date October 27, 2024). She is one of our first guests to discuss getting addicted specifically to 7-hydroxymitragynine products. Melanie also did not have any previous history of disordered substance use prior to this addiction. In follow-up questions after the interview, she texted Charlie the following responses - Melanie:
Got up to spending $75 to $100 per day on 7-OH right before quitting.
Took three and half days off of work during her detox.
Never had withdrawals from mitragynine extract because she never took those daily.
Getting laid-off from work six months after quitting was not related to her 7-OH addiction, though she did temporarily drink a little more to cope the first month she was unemployed.
Several Statement Clarifications & Sources from Episode
A. Charlie refers to 7-OH being “13 times more potent than morphine”
The often-cited idea that 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) is “~13 times more potent than morphine” comes from receptor-level and animal data, not direct human dose equivalence. It refers to higher potency at the mu-opioid receptor and stronger analgesic effects in preclinical models.
Source: Obeng S. et al. 7-Hydroxymitragynine Is an Active Metabolite of Mitragynine and a Key Mediator of Its Analgesic Effects. ACS Central Science, 2019. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acscentsci.9b00141
B. Melanie and Charlie talk about 7-OH’s “half-life of 3 hours”
Human pharmacokinetic data show that 7-OH has a relatively short half-life (on the order of a few hours, depending on dosing and conditions), so “around three hours” is a reasonable simplification for listeners.
Source: Obeng S. et al. Human Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine Pharmacokinetics after Oral Dosing of a Mitragynine-Rich Kratom Extract. Molecules, 2024; 29(5):984. https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/5/984
C. Melanie says “it’s basically like heroin / legal heroin”
This reflects Melanie’s personal subjective experience with high-potency 7-OH extract products. While 7-OH acts on opioid receptors and can cause dependence and withdrawal, kratom alkaloids differ from heroin in chemical structure, potency, and overdose profile.
Source: Gorelick DA. Kratom: Substance of Abuse or Therapeutic Plant? Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 2022; 45(3):415–430.
https://www.psych.theclinics.com/article/S0193-953X(22)00027-2/fulltext
D. Charlie and Melanie discuss “synthetic kratom”
Kratom leaves naturally contain mitragynine, and after drying and oxidation, trace amounts of 7-OH. Many 7-OH products contain synthetic or semi-synthetic analogs not found in the plant. These products can be far stronger than traditional kratom powder and carry different risks.
Source: Prevete E. et al. A Preliminary Inventory of Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) Products and Vendors on the Darknet and Cryptomarkets. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 2024; 56(4):485–495.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2023.2242361
E. Charlie compares 7-OH as “the cocaine of coca”
This analogy is meant to illustrate the difference between a traditional plant product and its purified, concentrated alkaloid such as 7-OH. Coca leaves contain low levels of cocaine alkaloids and have historically been used in relatively mild ways, while cocaine is a chemically isolated, highly potent derivative. By analogy, ultra-potent 7-OH kratom extracts/synthetics are to kratom leaf what cocaine is to coca leaf: a conceptual comparison, not a direct pharmacological equivalence.
Source:Naranjo PL. Social Function of Coca in Pre-Columbian America. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 1981; 3(2–3):161–172.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0378874181900520
WANT TO TELL YOUR STORY ON THE PODCAST?
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QUITTING KRATOM SUPPORT MEETINGS
https://www.kratommeetings.com
CONNECT WITH US
https://www.instagram.com/kratomsobriety
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https://www.tiktok.com/@krat0ms0briety
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https://www.threads.net/@kratomsobriety
CONTACT THE SHOW
Voice: 313-437-7720
Email: kratomsobriety@gmail.com
https://kratomsobriety.com
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kratom-addiction/id1685569424
https://www.audible.com/podcast/Kratom-Addiction/B0C3YHDLV5
https://open.spotify.com/show/4GkQiYu6S8IBn8qswyVm00
Sunday Nov 23, 2025
Sunday Nov 23, 2025
Charlie introduces Rosa as a new cohost (episode #54 used the alias Sofia). In the interview, Natalie sits down with Stewart, a husband, father of three, and self-employed handyman from Mesa, Arizona, who is celebrating one year of sobriety from kratom. Stewart shares a candid story of how kratom entered his life, how his use escalated, and the impact it had on his health, family, and sense of purpose. He got up to 80 grams per day, tapered down, and used a faith-based 12-step program and help of his family to quit kratom. The online kratom-specific recovery community Stewart and Natalie discuss:
Quitting Kratom Support
https://kratomquitters.com
WANT TO TELL YOUR STORY ON THE PODCAST?
https://forms.gle/VWrjhLSTPHqJyVhw7
QUITTING KRATOM SUPPORT MEETINGS
https://www.kratommeetings.com
CONNECT WITH US
https://www.instagram.com/kratomsobriety
https://twitter.com/kratomsobriety
https://www.tiktok.com/@krat0ms0briety
https://www.youtube.com/@KratomSobriety
https://www.facebook.com/kratomsobriety
https://bsky.app/profile/kratomsobriety.bsky.social
https://www.threads.net/@kratomsobriety
CONTACT THE SHOW
Voice: 313-437-7720
Email: kratomsobriety@gmail.com
https://kratomsobriety.com
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kratom-addiction/id1685569424
https://www.audible.com/podcast/Kratom-Addiction/B0C3YHDLV5
https://open.spotify.com/show/4GkQiYu6S8IBn8qswyVm00