Kratom didn’t arrive in Kansas overnight. It crept in quietly through smoke shops, convenience store counters, and online forums. It’s being sold as a tea, a powder, in easy to consume “energy shots” and as a "natural" way to ease pain, anxiety, or withdrawal. What started as loose leaf and crushed capsules has since morphed into something far more potent, and for many Kansans, far more dangerous.
A Short History of Kratom Use in the U.S.
Kratom, also known by its plant name Mitragyna speciosa, has a long tradition in Southeast Asia. There, it is used in its raw form, usually by chewing the leaves or brewing them into tea, to manage fatigue, treat pain, or support focus during long work days. At low doses, it acts as a mild stimulant. At higher doses, it has sedative effects.
When kratom made its way to the United States in the early 2000s, it was initially marketed to a niche audience. People recovering from opioid addiction took notice. So did chronic pain patients and individuals looking for a legal alternative to more heavily regulated substances.
Early on, most kratom use in the U.S. involved dried leaf powders, bitter, bulky, and hard to consume in large amounts. But as demand grew, so did innovation. Manufacturers began extracting and isolating the plant’s most active alkaloids, and with that, the risk profile changed.
The Role of 7-OH in Kratom’s Effects
To understand why concentrated kratom products are more dangerous, it helps to know a bit about how kratom works in the brain.
Kratom contains dozens of active compounds, but the two that matter most are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly shortened to 7-OH. While mitragynine is more abundant in the plant, 7-OH is far more potent. It binds to the brain’s mu-opioid receptors, the same ones targeted by drugs like morphine and heroin.
In traditional kratom leaf or powder, 7-OH is present in very small amounts. But through chemical processing and concentration, manufacturers have figured out how to dramatically increase its presence in finished products. The result is a shot or capsule that delivers the same kind of euphoric effects as an opioid, with a much higher risk of dependence and withdrawal.
From Leaf to Liquid: How Concentration Alters the Experience
Today’s kratom “shots” often contain highly concentrated extracts. A single serving might contain the equivalent of dozens of grams of raw powder. This makes it easier to consume large doses quickly and much harder to regulate intake.
In Kansas, as in many other states, concentrated kratom products are still legal and widely available. But legality doesn’t equal safety. With higher doses of 7-OH comes a faster onset of dependence. People who once brewed tea or took a teaspoon of powder now find themselves chasing the effects of shots that cost $10 to $15 a bottle and hit harder than they expected.
Tolerance builds quickly. So does physical dependence. What was once a mild energy boost becomes a daily requirement to function. And when someone tries to stop, they may experience severe withdrawal symptoms that feel eerily similar to traditional opioids: restlessness, insomnia, body aches, anxiety, and digestive distress.
How This Affects Kansas Communities
In working-class communities across Kansas, kratom has gained a reputation as a “less harmful” option. It’s marketed as a way to manage chronic pain, get through demanding shifts, or cope with stress without turning to harder substances. And for some, it starts that way.
But once kratom use shifts from raw powder to daily shots, the risk profile changes entirely. The concentrated forms are more habit-forming, more unpredictable, and often harder to quit. There is currently no standard dosing, no regulatory oversight, and no clear understanding of how much 7-OH is in each bottle.
This makes education, screening, and access to treatment essential, especially in addiction recovery centers and primary care settings where patients may not even identify their kratom use as a problem.
Moving Toward Safer Conversations
The reality is that kratom occupies a gray area. It’s not a schedule I drug. It’s not technically illegal. And for some people, it has served a purpose. But none of that changes the fact that the concentrated versions flooding shelves today are far more powerful and far more addictive.
Understanding this shift is key to addressing kratom use in Kansas. It’s not just about whether kratom is “good” or “bad.” It’s about what form it’s taken, how much 7-OH is in play, and whether the person using it has crossed the line into physical dependence.
For treatment professionals, that means asking better questions. For individuals and families, it means looking past the label and asking what’s really happening under the surface.
And for the person who’s already asking, “Why can’t I stop?” It means help is needed, and available.
Sunflower Recovery Center provides comprehensive treatment for substance use disorders, including kratom and 7-OH dependence. If you or someone you care about is struggling, call today.