Here me out.

I am an ex opiate addict myself. I took every pain pill and even used heroin myself for at least 2-4 years, with some of those years consisting of daily habitual use.

I have since turned to Kratom, and initially it was to subdue cravings, but when I experienced the "high" it was giving me I decided to keep using it as a mood enhancer.

It removes any notion I have of anxiety, and it does it in such a specific way that I would consider it to be more helpful than any benzo or opiate I've ever taken. In general I am happy and energetic, and most importantly I am content.

However, take a look at the subreddit r/quittingkratom. It looks a lot similar to r/OpiatesRecovery, and a lot of the posters complain of mental fog, short term memory loss, and feeling generally less intelligent. What this means to me is that without moderation and willpower, kratom has the same chance of causing you harm the same way opiates have done.

Don't get me wrong, I am going to continue use myself, but if you want to keep this clarity you will have to do things like forcing yourself to meditate, exercise, and eat healthy even when kratom saps you of any appetite you might have had. You must also keep in mind that there is no such thing as a substance that makes you feel good or better that does not come with a price. Consider it paying forward if you take from kratom without realizing this.

Anyways, all the best to you. If you have any questions or would like to talk further feel free to shoot me a PM. Enjoy and be healthy!