Exposing the Dark Side of Kratom. Is This “Natural” Supplement Fueling Addiction?

Kratom is a plant-based substance that’s easy to find in smoke shops, gas stations, and even health food stores. Marketed as a natural remedy for pain, energy, or opioid withdrawal, it’s gained a reputation as a “safe” alternative.

But according to Houston addiction medicine specialist Dr. Kamal Shah, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

He’s seen firsthand how quickly people can become dependent, from those in long-term recovery to others simply looking for pain relief. What starts as something “natural” often ends with tough withdrawals and a return to addictive patterns. Because kratom isn’t FDA-regulated, there’s no consistency in dosing or purity, adding another layer of risk.

Dr. Shah explains how kratom dependency develops fast and why withdrawal feels more like dopamine depletion than a classic opioid detox. He and Matt Handy discuss the growing concern around its easy access—especially for young people—and the misinformation that keeps it under the radar. 

For anyone in recovery, kratom isn’t a harmless supplement. It’s a slippery slope that can quietly pull people back into addiction.

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Eric B Zink, Day 3 Withdrawals Red Kratom (Vlogging My Withdrawals)

Matt Handy is the founder of Harmony Grove Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas, where their mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care for anyone facing addiction, mental health challenges, and co-occurring disorders.

Find out more at harmonygrovebh.com  

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and help is always available. If you or anyone you know needs help, give us a call 24 hours a day at 844-430-3060.

My Last Relapse explores what everyone is thinking but no one is saying about addiction and recovery through conversations with those whose lives have changed.

For anyone disillusioned with traditional recovery and feeling left out, misunderstood, or weighed down by unrealistic expectations, this podcast looks ahead—rejecting the lies and dogma that keep people from imagining life without using.

Got a question for us? Leave us a message or voicemail at mylastrelapse.com

Find us on YouTube @MyLastRelapse and follow Matt on Instagram @matthew.handy.17

Host: Matthew Handy
Producer: Eva Sheie
Assistant Producers: Mary Ellen Clarkson & Hannah Burkhart
Engineering: Voltage FM, Spencer Clarkson
Theme music: Survive The Tide, Machina Aeon
Cover Art:  DMARK

My Last Relapse is a production of Kind Creative: kindcreative.com