Hello @kevindmoore, it may be worth sharing some information that the community director, Colleen Young, shared awhile back regarding kratom:

Kratom is a natural product but it does have significant risks and side effects. Because of these risks the FDA banned import of Kratom in August 2016 and issued a notice of intent to classify 2 chemicals in Kratom as Schedule 1 drugs (the same category as heroin).

Kratom can cause dependence and withdrawl symptoms including aggression, anxiety and other negative psychiatric effects, muscle aches, spasms, tremors, insomnia, fever and upset stomach. It can also cause dangerous slowed breathing and seizures. It can worsen psychiatric disease and may increase the risk of suicide. Kratom can impair liver function. Kratom interacts with other herbal medications including Jimson Weed. It interacts with sedating medications. It has the potential for many other drug interactions because of the way it is metabolized.

There are other medications and therapies for pain and withdrawal. Pain and withdrawal CAN be safely and effectively managed with prescription medications and other therapies by dedicated providers.Trying to manage serious medical conditions without your provider to guide you could make the condition worse.

Mayo Clinic Pain Rehabilitation Centers use group therapy, physical and occupational therapy and biofeedback and work with each individual to optimize therapy. http://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/pain-rehabilitation-center/overview

This is a link to opiate addiction treatment centers and has further information on Kratom addiction. http://americanaddictioncenters.org/withdrawal-timelines-treatments/kratom/

@kevindmoore, if you don't mind sharing, what brought you to Connect?

I was more interested in exchanging ideas and personal responses to AA and chronic pain in general; what I've found in most other groups (usually on Facebook) is one-liners, favorite causes (never anything dealing with pain), and lots of people talking about their diets. This is why I'm in Connect. My concern with the worry I read here--with addiction has me baffled. The percentage of folks who become addicted while taking opiates for chronic pain is incredibly low. Out of 130 people, 1 will become addicted. I've had Adhesive (and sub) Arachnoiditis for 45 years, have never had decent medical care, and stupidly walked out on my pain management clinic, never imagining just how horrific the pain was gonna get. Kratom sounds like a real nightmare of a drug, and it's good of you to share your knowledge about it. The only thing available here is CBD oil, and it's pricey. I have access to everything illegal, but they don't appeal. Pot is delivered, but VERY pricey, and way too strong for me; I start hallucinating after 1 hit. If anyone reads this and knows of a natural pain killer, you'd be doing a round the clock pain sufferer a huge favor. Thanks for listening to my rant!

Rants are always welcome ! and I couldn't agree more on the obsession with addiction. It is not the prescribed users that get addicted as long as they only see one Dr. and he is reputable and go to only one pharmacy. the problem lays in Dr.s that over-prescribe and those using illegally. Also I will be in pain until I die so does that mean I am an addict because I will be on it till then? and if so ...so what ...if pain meds in moderate use can give me back some time with grandkids and a little normalcy to my days that's the road I am willing to take...it beats dealing with the side-effects of pain...no sleep(and side effects of that !), depression (increased suicide), no appetite, in-ability to function or perform daily personal care activities and so many others. I guess I am in a bit of a pissy mood also ! So excuse my rant also I am usually more coherent than this and a lot more upbeat !! Next time I promise my happy face will be back on...but that is the great thing about this place you don't always have to have your "happy face" on

Allsionsnow I have been screaming this from the mountain top. QUALITY of Life. Why don't they go after the high schools students and college students who seem to be able to get what we need and cannot get. Also Texas with their idiot laws not allow Marijuana.. I should have check that before I left Oregon where I could freely get it. I had three plants of my own growing in my Sun room. They grew like WEED should grow. I had to give it all away as I could not fly with it or bring it into Texas. I guess I have to make friends with some high school students or College Students. They seem to get it freely.

@allisonsnow Hello there. You are not alone in the mood arena. Non-stop pain is something that can bring on the not-so-happy face. I have ceased posting as often because of my dour mood. Understand about the grand kids too. I have tried to remain upbeat too. When the guilty cause as much harm as they have and do...How the heck do these people get drugs and only want them to get high. Excuse me as well. Where to go from here?

Allison, I don't know where they get the drugs. I just want Marijuana. I prefer not to have the hard drugs. I truly believe that doctors are getting kick backs on the drugs they order. They are afraid to loose this extra money.

I know when we have to jump thru so many hoops to get anything from marijuana to our prescribed opiods how do they get it with a text to the neighborhood dealer. I personally have had only bad results trying a form of marijuana but on minimal opiods I can maintain. But when a situation arises I need more pain control I do not appreciate being treated like a criminal because I temporarily need a higher dose. My Dr. knows my history and should prescribe with more compassion. I have never gotten this "high" people talk about what I want to be able to do is move....play...walk ...dress...garden...have sex...without debilitating pain. I want to smile because I am happy not as a cover to make others feel better. I want to once again shout from the roof tops..."I am blessed" God has given me comfort and joy with this extended life I have received...but pain can block that from our minds...I do not want....to be drugged to oblivion...to lose control of my thoughts and actions ...I want quality and control and laughter and friends. I could go on for ever but the most irritating thing right now?? I created myself…."I am fine" I say and they so want to believe that they ask no other questions. I go for my 3 month scans this week so I am sure that has made me more introspective than usual. But I question who I will even tell if the results are more negative than I would want. Every time the scans have shown growth since we halted chemo in Jan. ...I had growth while doing chemo and sideeffects were getting more severe.What I am going to ask him is "if the growth was enough to warrant chemo and it has done nothing but grow since then...why is current philosophy watch and wait? He has as much said he doesn't know what to try next. Sorry got away from pain topic !!! husband will be home soon and he gets tired of seeing me online

Isn't it nice to have to have a place to come and just be ourselves? To just say all the things that no one else wants to hear, or pretend we're "fine" when we feel like screaming? I have a wicked disease on top of AA called subarachnoiditis (affects everything from the top of my head down), which I can find NOTHING to read about it, sorta like AA was 45 years ago, which causes all sorts of bizarre effects that I can't even describe oy vey, what madness we live with! You with whatever you're being given chemo for that even your doctor doesn't understand, me with a handful of incurable diseases that have NEVER been cared for by anyone in the medical profession(?). I think if it weren't for my Buddhist practice I'd of offed myself decades ago.But that and my insatiable interest in many, many things (plus love) saved me.

@geezappeal1, if you don't mind, would you please tell me what is the AA to which you refer? Thank you. @cognac

Adhesive Arachnoiditis. I'm in the other A.A. too.