The opioid crisis is inevitably going to continue to grow in the United States. This is going to force more and more people to first confront, and possibly struggle to overcome their dependency. As more people look for help less than reliable systems will appear.

One of the most controversial methods to self-detox from opiates is a previously little-known herb from the other side of the globe: Kratom.

What is Kratom? Kratom, scientifically known as “Mitragyna speciosa” is a relative of the coffee plant, only with a much darker history. It’s leaves are picked, dried and then ground into a powder that is packaged for sale.

The problem with Kratom is simple: It is just as addictive as opioids.

In February 2018, the FDA released a statement after extensive tests stating kratom contains the same chemical compounds found in opioids. Research on the 25 most common chemical compounds found in kratom indicates it acts on the brain in the same way as prescription opiates, such as oxycodone, and non prescription opiates, such as heroin.

“Claiming that kratom is benign because it’s ‘just a plant’ is short-sighted and dangerous,” said the FDA’s commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, MD, in a statement. “It’s an opioid. And it’s an opioid that’s associated with novel risks because of the variability in how it’s being formulated, sold, and used recreationally.”