Side-Stepping Addiction with Kratom: On Page with founder Kevin Shaw for The Tree of Life

In 2014 the National Survey on Drug Use and Health started keeping track of national estimates for drug misuse and health segmented into two subsets: youths ages 12-17 and adults 18 or older. These tables show the national average breakdowns on drug, alcohol, and tobacco use, as well as substance use disorder (SUD), risk and availability of substance use, treatment, health topics, and alcohol consumption and are represented by a variety of demographic, geographic, and other variables.

The above studies help create SAMHSA’s (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations) numerous programs and organizations that offer treatment and advice to these families and individuals. As I read through different programs and pages of statistics I began speaking with people in the Kratom community that have had first hand experiences with some of these programs and some of the stories are posted on Little Leafs United. To be upfront, I personally have never been thru any of these programs and the couple of things that I’ve had to quit were probably not as tough as some of the programs that others have been thru nor did my addictions spiral too far out of control.

So today we are on page with the founder of Tree of Life, Kevin Shaw who has taken addiction and recovery in a unconventional direction. I came across Kevin’s name in my friends suggestion while surfing Facebook and reached out to him because his profile picture happened to have #IamKratom across and unbeknown that Kevin had a group he had formed called Tree of Life. Kind enough to chat openly I discovered that Kratom is a big no no in the traditional recovery setting which left me scratching my head as to the why.

So Kevin tell us a little about how you became a Kratom consumer?

My addiction began in high school after a football accident and at the time my doctor prescribed opioid for a broken ankle and a dislocated knee cap. I spend a good 25 years following that looking for my next high. It wasn’t until 2015 that my life took a turn and my addictions caught up to me and I had no choice to but to stop using drugs. I was struggling thru withdrawal and my co-worker suggested I try Kratom.

What is Tree of Life and how did it begin?
I began Tree of Life over 6 years ago and it consists of over 400 members. It’s a safe place that we discuss botanicals such as Kratom and other alkaloids. Discussion is open to anything without judgment and educating others about Kratom.

Do you have steps like other traditional addiction groups?
I don’t have steps, the first thing is getting someone to want to quit their addiction and then we educate them on Kratom use and how it can help with their discomfort thru their withdrawal.  When drugs are completely out of their system that is when Kratom works best.

Do you have a section of your group that pairs people with sponsors?
I have a few but we don’t have an official mentoring program. I am always around to listen no matter where they are or where they are from.

Your approach to addiction goes against the traditional philosophy by using Kratom, why is that?
Most drug counselors have never done drugs so relating to addiction and what you physically and mentally go thru is not an empathetic approach but rather a sympathetic approach. People don’t get addicted to drugs without reason. A lot of times addictions are a result of situations people have been in or have gone thru. Finding that root of the problem is when rehabilitation begins.

Had you not found these natural medicines to help your struggle with your addiction who would you be today?
If it wasn’t for Kratom I wouldn’t be alive today. To date I have stayed clean and this coming winter I will be taking courses to get my Addiction Counseling degree.

If you were to give advice to anyone thinking of trying Kratom what would it be?
Kratom is the answer to so many ailments; you can be a pain patient looking for relief, an addict looing for a safe way out, or a person with anxiety and depression.  There is nothing the Kratom community won’t do to keep Kratom available and protected. If it wasn’t for Kratom I wouldn’t be alive today and using it as a tool to keep the Demons at Bay.

I cannot comment on anyone else’s approach to how they handle pain, recovery or addiction I can say that there is truly one person that can know when honest with themselves what they need for their body. I also think there is a negative perception that when people read articles that involve Kratom and the FDA not approving of Kratom it becomes taboo.

The actual reality is now we are trying to correct the impact of the FDA’s 20 year period of approved Opioid products. A study done by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School and George Washington University found evidence that between 1997 and 2018 that 47 of these 48 approved opioids relied on short- or intermediate-term studies(approx. fewer than 12 week studies) that largely did not adequately analyze safety outcomes. These findings, from a cross-sectional analysis, published in the .

Side-stepping addiction with Kratom is often frowned upon and is looked at as a stigma but then again so is the word addiction. Our journey more often than not does not go in a straight line and the realities of life don’t always fit inside 12 steps. Kratom has over a hundred years of evidence that it can help so many people in various ways. I hope that you find inspiration in people that have side-stepped their addiction with Kratom. And know that there are groups out there like Tree of Life that hears your pain and will help you along the way.