CHARLOTTE – Former motocross racer Brandon Gadzia says he used to be addicted to painkillers.
After getting hooked again and again, he researched an alternative to break his cycle. That’s when he found kratom. He says the herbal drug alleviates his physical pain and gives him a boost of energy when he needs it.
“Some people have to have five cups of double espresso Starbucks every day. I don't drink coffee, so I take kratom,” he said.
He says kratom helped him quit his addiction.
“I feel normal again for the first time in six or seven years,” said Gadzia.
Toxicologist Anna Dulaney says kratom is a growing concern in the area. She's seen five to six cases of overdoses in the last year across North Carolina compared to just one case the previous year.
Dulaney says early research shows kratom could be dangerous when used with other medication.
“If it interferes with their prescription drugs, they could end up with drug toxicity from the drugs they normally take,” she said.
In some cases, Dulaney says users show signs of addiction - withdrawal symptoms like irritability, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Gadzia say he hasn't felt any negative effects, and for him it's better than using painkillers.
“Do I want to keep living that life and chasing that demon or do I want to get back to normal where I was before my accident? Kratom has definitely got me back there,” he said.
Dulaney says, without regulation, people don't know the correct dosage and what kratom can really do to their bodies. But Gadzia says he'll keep taking that risk after kratom saved his life.
Dulaney says if someone insists on trying kratom, they should consult their doctor first. But she doesn't advise people take the drug until more research is done.