MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. — A drug that is illegal in Alabama and described as highly addictive is turning up on shelves at gas stations and vape shops, often marketed as an “energy shot.”
The substance is called kratom, and the bottles claim to help with stress and provide an extra boost of energy. Virginia Guy, executive director of the Drug Education Council, said the products can be found throughout Mobile and Baldwin counties.
“In high doses, it has almost an opioid like effect. So, you know, it rides on the pain receptors in the brain the same way opioids do. It’s not an opioid,” Guy said.
Kratom originally comes from a plant, but Guy said manufacturers are now producing a synthetic version that is far stronger. She warned that the addictive nature of the drug is not reflected in how the products are packaged and sold.
“It’s really the long-term effects that are the most harmful. You know, it can cause cardiac problems, that can cause a tremendous amount of anxiety and psychological problems,” Guy said. “If you start using any kind of substance by the age of about 14 or 15, you have about a 47% chance of developing addiction at some point in your life.”
Rising use among teens
Over the past few years, Guy said, there has been an increase in the number of 12- to 17-year-olds using kratom. She pointed to social media as one driver of that trend.
“It’s become very popular on social media among some influencers who are promoting the use of kratom and that’s caused young people to have an interest in it,” Guy said.
She said the drug also appeals to teens because it is difficult to detect.
“It’s not easily detected on drug screens. It doesn’t have a lot of odors. It can be easily used without parents or educators really knowing,” Guy said.
Legal elsewhere, banned in Alabama
Kratom is legal in Mississippi and most of Florida. While it is banned in Alabama, Guy said misleading marketing that obscures the ingredients helps keep the products on store shelves.
“The owners and the managers of those stores may not even realize it’s kratom because it’s not regulated. So, it’s being marketed under all kinds of things,” Guy said.
Her advice to parents is to warn their children of the dangers before they encounter the drug.