{"id":561670,"date":"2025-10-15T00:28:26","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T00:28:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.olympiajournal.com\/news\/story\/561670\/mountainside-the-leader-in-kratom-treatment-reports-a-surge-in-kratom-detox-admissions-amid-growing-national-concern.html"},"modified":"2025-10-15T00:28:26","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T00:28:26","slug":"mountainside-the-leader-in-kratom-treatment-reports-a-surge-in-kratom-detox-admissions-amid-growing-national-concern","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.olympiajournal.com\/news\/story\/561670\/mountainside-the-leader-in-kratom-treatment-reports-a-surge-in-kratom-detox-admissions-amid-growing-national-concern.html","title":{"rendered":"Mountainside The Leader in Kratom Treatment Reports A Surge in Kratom Detox Admissions Amid Growing National Concern"},"content":{"rendered":"

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CANAAN, CT –<\/strong> Mountainside Treatment Center’s Detox Program is experiencing a notable rise in kratom-related admissions as lawmakers and public health officials nationwide intensify scrutiny of the unregulated substance and its potent derivative, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH).<\/p>\n

Following Florida’s statewide ban on 7-OH and pending Connecticut legislation (HB 6855), Mountainside has seen increased engagement across multiple levels of care.<\/p>\n

While Jana Wu’s<\/a> weekly virtual Kratom Support Group<\/a> continues to attract new participants, particularly from Florida and New York City, where kratom products are still easily accessible, Mountainside’s Detox Program is also reporting a steady increase in clients seeking treatment for kratom dependence. Further, Mountainside professionals are noting that the severity and duration of withdrawal is more acute now than in years past.<\/p>\n

“Many people assume kratom is a safe, natural alternative to opioids, but detoxing from kratom and 7-OH can be just as complex,” said Jana Wu, LCSW, LADC, ICADC, Director of Clinical Integration at Mountainside.<\/p>\n

“We’re seeing individuals struggling with dependence and withdrawal, often unaware of the risks. Mountainside has been tracking kratom use for several years and the acuity of clients for 7-OH in particular, can be even more severe.”<\/p>\n

Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse stated in the Wall Street Journal<\/a> on August 19, 2025, that “people with opioid use disorders who use kratom will turn to much more dangerous drugs, leading to an increase in overdose deaths.”<\/p>\n

Kratom is a plant native to Southeast Asia whose leaves contain natural alkaloids—primarily mitragynine—that act on opioid receptors, producing stimulant effects at low doses and sedative or euphoric effects at higher doses.<\/p>\n

7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a semi-synthetic derivative of kratom, is far more potent. It occurs naturally in trace amounts but is often concentrated or added to commercial products, dramatically increasing addiction potential and withdrawal severity.<\/p>\n

While kratom alone can cause dependence, 7-OH-enhanced products carry significantly higher risks for tolerance, craving, and withdrawal—often prompting individuals to seek medical detox or specialized support groups for education and recovery.<\/p>\n

Mountainside’s medically supervised detox provides a safe environment for individuals withdrawing from kratom and other substances through:<\/p>\n