Mason SandersKratom is a tree that grows in southeast Asia, its leaves contain at least two psychoactive alkaloids. These alkaloids are mitragynine and 7-HO-mitragynine. Mitragynine has the highest concentration in the plant of any of its alkaloids. 7-HO-Mitragynine is an oxidized derivative and active metabolite of mitragynine. This plant drug has been used for hundreds, if not thousands of years, in their native environment. Kratom was first used in the US when Vietnam veterans brought the product back home. It didn’t became popular until around 2010. The reason for a sudden explosion in popularity, reaching up to 15 million users yearly(1), in the US is multifaceted. Number one, the drug is enjoyable, it causes euphoria, pain relief, and sedative effects. Number two, it is very effective at treating opioid withdrawal and can therefore be a tool for people wanting to quit classical opioids and opiates.(2) There are many ways to ingest this product. The most common way is to either make a tea out of the raw powder, or eat the raw powder. Anecdotally, most people I know who use the drug, take it in capsule form, or dump the powder into their mouth and wash it down quickly. There are also various forms of extracts and tablets.