KRATOM AND KAVA ADDICTION TREATMENT IN CLEVELAND, OH
- September 26, 2020
- Prosperity Haven
- Addiction Treatment
At Prosperity Haven, we believe that every form of addiction deserves an individualized treatment plan, even the lesser known varieties. That’s why we make a point to broaden our understanding of less common – yet still potentially addictive – substances, because it allows to incorporate new information into the treatment that we offer.
Two unusual drug worth exploring are kratom and kava, which are naturally occurring substances that have traditionally been used in religious and cultural ceremonies and for medicinal purposes. They’re important to cover because they’re both legal to obtain in the United States under a variety of different names, and both can result in some very serious health risk.
What is kratom?
Kratom is a tree from Southeast Asia with leaves that can create mind-altering effects when used. It’s a largely legal and uncontrolled substance, despite the high it can cause, and can be purchased online as a pill, extract, or raw under the name biak, ithang, kakuam, ketum, and thom.
Kratom is composed of sadative, pain relieving properties, similar to opioids or herion, and the increased energy often associated with stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine.
What is kava?
Kava meanwhile, is a crop from the Pacific Islands whose roots contain sedative properties. It’s legal in most states as a supplement and is available in the form of pills or teas, under the names kava kava, kawa waka, wati, awa, ava, yaqona, sakau, seka, malok. malogu, and grog.
Kava has depresssant qualities, similar to those found in alcohol, which relieve pain and can make user feel relaxed.
Identifying kratom abuse and kaya abuse
There is a scientific disagreement about whether kratom and kava can be used in healthy ways and doses, but in large and frequent amounts, both have serious mental and physical health risk.
Kratom carries with it many negative symptoms of both opioids and stimulants:
- Hallucinations, with risk of psychosis
- Depression and drowsiness
- Nausea and loss of appetite
- Itching and sweating
- Dry mouth, constipation, increased urination, and dehydration
- Liver and brain damage
- Seizure and coma
- Hallucinations, with risk of psychosis
- Depression and drowsiness
- Nausea and loss of appetite
- Itching and sweating
- Dry mouth, constipation, increased urination, and dehydration
- Liver and brain damage
- Seizure and coma
Kava’s symptoms often involve the body being deprived of nutrients, and dangerous organ damage:
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Headaches and dizziness
- Loss of appetite or sex drive
- Dehydration, leading to dry, scaly or yellow skin, and diarrhea
- Serious liver problems including scarring, inflammation and even failure
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Headaches and dizziness
- Loss of appetite or sex drive
- Dehydration, leading to dry, scaly or yellow skin, and diarrhea
- Serious liver problems including scarring, inflammation and even failure
Quitting kratom and kava alone isn't easy - or safe
Because kratom interacts with opioid receptors in the brain, it’s no surprise that the withdrawal symptoms can be compared to opioids and opiates. Since kava can have both sedative and psychoactive effects on the body, chemical dependency is a real possibility, and so we are the withdrawal symptoms that take effect when the user is trying to stop.
Common Kratom Withdrawal Symptoms:
- Emotional instability
- Irritability and anger
- Muscle pain and spasms
- Insomnia
- Watery eyes & runny nose
- Feverishness
Common Kratom Withdrawal Symptoms:
- Muscle and abdominal pain
- High blood pressure
- Anger
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
- Feverishness
Common Kratom Withdrawal Symptoms:
- Emotional instability
- Irritability and anger
- Muscle pain and spasms
- Insomnia
- Watery eyes & runny nose
- Feverishness
Common Kratom Withdrawal Symptoms:
- Muscle and abdominal pain
- High blood pressure
- Anger
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
- Feverishness
While it’s in question whether either drug causes overdose when used in a high enough quantity, both can have significant withdrawal side effects. Combined with any underlying health issues, abuse of either substance can lead to potentially severe outcomes.
Kava and kratom detox near cleveland, ohio
Understanding and educating about the risks and impact of all kinds of drugs is important to us, because we take pride in building a substance abuse treatment plan that meets our clients where they are in their recovery.
For all addictive substance, as common or uncommon as they may be, our team at Prosperity Haven is here to help clients in Cleveland and throughout Northeast Ohio break free and find recovery. To learn more about our individualized substance and rehab programs, call us at 440-253-9915 today.
