Comment from Michael Summers
AnonymousSupportIndividual
Summary: An individual who suffers from chronic back pain argues against outlawing Kratom because it serves as a safer alternative to opioid medications for their pain management. They state that making Kratom illegal would negatively impact their quality of life and ability to function.
Please do not outlaw Kratom. I have had chronic back pain for over 20 years. I am 50 years old now and I've seen countless doctors and have spent a lot of time in physical therapy. Yet my back pain continues. I use to be prescribed opioid pain killers and muscle relaxers. The side effects from those meant they were not a long term option. But I still became addicted to them because nothing else was working. That is until I found Kratom. I have not taken a single opioid pain killer in over 9 years. The side effects from Kratom are so much more tolerable than opioid medication. Making Kratom illegal will negatively affect my life and I will probably have to go back to opioid pain killers and muscle relaxers. I understand some forms of kratom are being misused by some people, but why should I be punished for that? I have made peace with the fact that I will always have back pain but kratom makes it tolerable. I read that not a single person has died from Kratom. Why then, would you make it illegal? Please do not make it illegal. I want the freedom to live my life the way I see fit and make the choices that are best for me. Taking Kratom is what helps me get through the day and be a productive member of society.