Alcohol and Kratom: A Dangerous Cocktail

The Risks to Health and Sanity from Combining Kratom and Alcohol

Are you, or perhaps someone you love, mixing alcohol and kratom in search of pain relief or to escape from reality? When you mix kratom and alcohol, you might feel some temporary solace. Still, when using alcohol, combining kratom creates potential risks that some people overlook. It’s important to understand how using kratom and alcohol together can bring unintended long-term consequences.

Catalina Behavioral Health is a Joint Commission-accredited mental health and drug abuse treatment facility offering a full continuum of care. Our staff has helped hundreds of clients heal from the impacts of drug and alcohol dependence through our unique combination of holistic wellness techniques and evidence-based treatment options.

Please read on to learn how mixing kratom and alcohol, or combining kratom and other drugs, can cause an increased risk for several adverse effects. And if you or someone you love needs support for getting clean and sober, remember that Catalina is here with support programs for recovery!

Why Kratom Can Be Extremely Dangerous

Kratom is a substance that comes from Mitragyna speciosa, a tree native to Southeast Asia. People in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, nations in Southeast Asia, have used the plant to relieve pain and improve mood disorders.

Kratom acts on the brain’s opioid receptors. The opioid receptors send signals from the brain to the central nervous system. In turn, it can cause respiratory depression, and sedation, and affect hormone release.

It is stimulating effects occur when taken at low doses. On the other hand, it has sedative effects when taken at high doses. That makes it unpredictable when someone mixes it with other substances, especially when they don’t know how it may interact.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there are currently no FDA-approved uses for this substance. As a “supplement,” it does not fall under FDA safety regulations.

A final consideration that concerns federal officials is heavy metal poisoning, which can come from soil contamination in the regions that grow Kratom.

Mixing Kratom and Alcohol: A Cocktail Recipe for Disaster

Taking Kratom with alcohol or other drugs can have deadly effects. A December 2023 headline from the Tampa Bay Times states: “Hundreds died using kratom in Florida. It was touted as safe.“

The article explains how over 530 Floridians passed as a result of mixing Kratom with another substance. The problem could be avoided by accurate labeling. For instance, popular over-the-counter allergy medicines warn consumer to avoid alcohol with their active ingredients due to extreme drowsiness.

However, because the “dietary supplement” category does not receive FDA oversight, Kratom distributors ignore the usual guidelines. People assume it’s safe because the label does not tell them otherwise. They also don’t know that higher doses, such as Kratom extract, have the opposite effect from lower doses. Combining alcohol and kratom can have very dangerous, or even deadly, opioid-like effects.

Peter Mixed Kratom and Alcohol to Pass a Drug Test, Then Had Adverse Effects

Peter, a past Catalina Behavioral Health client, started mixing Kratom with alcohol after starting a new job that had frequent random drug testing. He had been using other illicit substances but needed his new warehouse job. A friend taught him how to mix Kratom and alcohol, explaining that alcohol metabolizes faster than street drugs and most drug tests don’t detect Kratom – which isn’t even illegal, anyway.

As he continued to use the two substances, he developed tolerance and began drinking alcohol more heavily. He was not aware that the depressant effects of each were more intense, slowing the central nervous system and breathing. One evening, he was having his evening “cocktail” of Kratom and alcohol and started to have extreme difficulty breathing. Fortunately, he dialed 911 for help when he realized he had an accidental overdose. He luckily made that call just before he passed out.

During the recovery process at Catalina Behavioral Health, Peter learned how to end his Kratom addiction and stopped drinking alcohol altogether. It turned out that his use was recreational, and he’d started using it for the depressant effects so that he could sleep at night after his wife had divorced him. With intense therapy and learning new ways to cope with losing his marriage, Peter was able to recover fully. Today, he goes to Alcoholics Anonymous every week to stay committed to sobriety and get support to quit drinking regularly.

Understanding the Long-Term Effects of Alcohol Abuse

Setting aside the Kratom issue for a moment, let’s take a look at the long-term outcomes of alcohol use disorder without the complications of other drugs:

• Physical health issues: Liver damage; heart problems; decreased cognition; immune system dysfunction; increased risk for certain types of cancer; kidney failure
• Mental health issues: Depression; anxiety; alcohol use disorder
• Economic and social outcomes: Legal fees, stressful relationships; job loss

While these effects of alcohol consumption are dangerous, it’s also important to mention that alcohol withdrawal symptoms can be severe, including delirium tremens, high blood pressure, and dehydration. Seek the care of a medical detox professional to end your struggles with alcohol abuse.

Now, What Happens With Long-Term Kratom Use?

Now let’s look at the opposite: the effects that happen when using Kratom for a long time, without the complications of other substances:

• Physical health issues: Increasing physical dependence; weight loss; liver damage or toxicity; emetic effects (vomiting/dehydration)
• Mental health issues (from the psychotropic effects): Mood changes; anxiety; irritability; depression; difficulty concentrating; developing substance use disorder
• Economic and social outcomes: Less interest in social activities, loss of relationships; job loss

Because it impacts the brain’s opioid receptors, Kratom withdrawal symptoms are very similar to opioid withdrawal symptoms. They include muscle pain, drowsiness, nausea and vomiting, hot flashes, and agitation. Because of the vomiting when stopping, dehydration is a very real threat. A medical detox center is the safest place to detox.

Even More Adverse Effects: Mixing Kratom and Alcohol Together

Now that we have looked at the separate impacts of kratom and alcohol let’s review what happens when you mix an alcohol-Kratom cocktail:

Excessive Sedation When Mixing Alcohol With Kratom

Both alcohol and Kratom are sedatives. Combining kratom and alcohol multiplies the effects. If you use them together, you may feel lethargic and drowsy. It also causes impaired judgment and motor skills, placing you at a higher risk for an accident if you drive.

These Addictive Substances Increase Your Chances of Respiratory Depression

Alcohol depresses the central nervous system; Kratom interacts with the opioid receptors, creating a depressant effect. Mixing Kratom and alcohol can lead to shallow, slow breathing or respiratory depression.

Liver Toxicity and Disease with Substance Abuse

Mixing alcohol and Kratom causes excessive strain on the liver, forcing it to metabolize both simultaneously. With continued substance abuse, you can develop liver toxicity or worsen existing liver disease.

Alcohol and Kratom Addiction Can Cause a Cardiac Arrest

Both alcohol and Kratom can cause hypertension or high blood pressure. Combining Kratom and alcohol worsens the already dangerous condition and can cause cardiac arrest.

The Numbers on Alcohol and Kratom-Related Overdoses

According to NIDA, most Kratom-related hospitalizations, overdoses, and deaths come from mixing Kratom with other substances. Those with other conditions may also have an increased risk of using certain Kratom products.

The Overdose Signs You Should Know

Here are the overdose signs to watch when mixing Kratom with alcohol, prescription medications, or any other drugs:

• Agitation or irritable
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Overly sedative effects
• Nausea or vomiting
• Seizures
• Hallucinations
• Breathing problems
• Severely impaired coordination
• Loss of consciousness
• Blue-toned lips, fingernails, or skin

Mixing each addictive substance increases the risk of an overdose. Call 911 and follow the dispatcher’s instructions until an ambulance arrives.

Catalina Can Help You Stop Mixing Kratom and Alcohol

Help is available if you or your loved one has started to drink alcohol along with using Kratom. Our clinical team at Catalina Behavioral Health takes a highly customized approach to caring for Kratom and alcohol addiction.

Here’s how your recovery process might look:

Medical Detox to Start Resetting Your Brain Chemistry

The first step to wellness is medical detoxification, which occurs when your body metabolizes and sheds the remaining chemicals from your system. While some clients have difficulty during Kratom and alcohol withdrawal process, others find it less intense.

Our team will monitor your well-being. Our medical specialist can write a prescription pain reliever to help you manage symptoms, usually flu-like aches.

Our Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment Options at Catalina

We offer several levels of care, including inpatient and outpatient treatment options.

When Is Inpatient Residential the Best Option?

Residential or inpatient care is the best option for those who have a dual diagnosis or have been abusing substances for a long time. Besides taking Kratom and alcohol, they may have experimented with mixing stimulants or abusing prescription medications. They receive 24-7 care in a structured setting, where healing is their only focus.

When is Outpatient the Best Option?

Outpatient treatment is effective for people using both Kratom and alcohol, but either don’t have a co-occurring disorder or a less complex addiction. They can achieve a balance between therapy and support groups while still maintaining their daily responsibilities.

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for Kratom and Alcohol

Both Kratom and alcohol addictions generally require MAT. This means the doctor will prescribe a less-harmful medicine to “step down” from the Kratom and alcohol. They’ll gradually taper the dose until you are chemical-free.

Relapse Prevention Planning to Stay Free of Kratom or Alcohol Abuse

Finishing treatment can be equal parts joy and feeling overwhelmed. You leave the structured therapeutic environment for the first time in weeks, leaving you vulnerable to making mistakes.

But we have you covered!

Before leaving our recovery program, you will work individually with a counselor and in group therapy to develop an aftercare plan. This strategy will help you prevent relapse and give you the tools you need to get back on track if you do relapse.

We Accept Most Insurance Types for Effective Programs

We are happy to work with most group and private health insurance companies and some forms of AHCCCS. We also accept self-pay clients.

We can help you start the insurance verification process today. Just reach out to our team with your personal contact information and the policy and group numbers from your insurance card. We will take care of all insurance coverage verification details from there.

Connect With Us Today to Stop Taking Kratom and Drinking

Becoming aware is a good start to healing the issue. If you are ready to end your struggles with Kratom and alcohol, let’s connect. We are glad to answer any questions about addiction, mental health, and our kratom treatment offerings.

Our admission team is standing by for your confidential call – please connect with our team for immediate help.