In recent years, alcohol consumption among young people has been reported to be significantly lower than in previous generations.
As someone pointed out 2023 Survey According to a Gallup survey, “Younger Americans have become less likely to drink alcohol over the past two decades, with 18- to 34-year-olds drinking less than 50% of their alcohol intake. Never drink,They are Drink in the past week And they Sometimes I drink more than I need All are “down” today compared to the past 20 years.
At the same time, alcohol alternatives are becoming more popular. 2023 PBS Stories “Sales of so-called non-alcoholic spirits, beer and wine at grocery stores, convenience stores and liquor stores have increased by more than 40 percent in the past two years alone,” it said.
At the same time, there has been a rise in alcohol substitutes that claim to bring about a change in the drinker’s state.
These drinks may contain kava, Alcohol and Drug Foundation Described by the DEA as “a sedative made from the root or stump of the kava (Piper methysticum) shrub,” kratom is “a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia.”
“Ingestion of the leaves can produce both stimulant effects at low doses and sedative effects at higher doses, potentially leading to psychotic symptoms and psychological and physiological dependence,” it said. DEA Fact Sheet.
While these may be considered safer alternatives for those looking to quit alcohol or simply reduce their alcohol intake, they can come with their own risks, as TikTok user Jasmine Adeoye (@jasmineadeoye_) recently pointed out in a video that has been viewed more than 934,000 times.
What is “Feel Free” and is it something you’re obsessed with?
In the video, Adeoye talks about how she became addicted to a product called Feel Free, made by a company called Botanic Tonics, and how she eventually quit. WebsiteThis product contains kava root and leaf kratom.
The TikTok user recalled that she discovered the product through a podcast she previously enjoyed, and initially didn’t like it, describing the experience as “nauseating and dizzying,” but later saw growing buzz around the product and gave it a try again.
“I loved the way it made me feel,” she says.
As a result, she began having one or two drinks on weekends – the website recommends no more than one drink a day, and Adeoye says she initially stayed within that range.
But once she began working in what she described as a “toxic” environment, she found herself relying more and more on the products, and increasingly using amounts far in excess of the recommended doses.
“I went from once a day to two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine times a day, especially at work, when I felt like I couldn’t have a conversation without the shots,” she admits. “I felt like I needed them and they made me feel better even in really tough situations.”
This was different from her previous struggles with addiction, she says.
“I’ve never been addicted to anything like that in my life,” she says. “For example, I talk about my struggles with alcohol, my issues with excessive drinking, my issues with smoking marijuana in the past, but I’ve never been addicted to anything in my life to this extent.”
All the while, she says, she hid her drug addiction from those around her, including her friends and fiancé. At the same time, she became increasingly dependent on injecting drugs, injecting in her car before social events and not being honest with others in order to “hide” her addiction.
When she got engaged, she said her drug addiction was at its peak, and after her mother came to visit to celebrate her engagement, she decided to suddenly stop taking drugs, a decision that led her to experience symptoms she describes as similar to opioid withdrawal.
“I woke up that Sunday morning feeling extremely sick, dizzy, lethargic and depressed — all the symptoms of opioid withdrawal,” she said.
When her symptoms worsened, she asked her mother to take her to hospital, but she did not receive proper treatment because she was not honest about the cause of her symptoms.
In the end, she said she felt “the Holy Spirit had convicted me.” [her]She says her mom encouraged her to be honest about what was going on, including that she had gone into heavy debt to buy these drinks, and then she received incredible support from her mom and fiancé, who helped her get through the withdrawal symptoms and get back on the path to sobriety.
“I’ve been drug-free ever since. The first week or so of withdrawal was pretty tough, but after that I felt a lot better and like a different person,” she says. “I feel like myself again.”
Other Stories of Feel Free Addiction
This is not the first time that talk about “Feel Free” has sparked online debate.
The Daily Dot previously covered stories of internet users who began drinking multiple cups a day and began to feel addicted, and while searching for more information about the drink, they came across a subreddit called Quitting Feel Free, where users shared how difficult it was to quit the drink.
“There was this guy who was like, ‘I was doing heroin intravenously, and it’s harder to get off this stuff than it was to get off heroin,'” the TikTok user recalled. “And I was like, what the heck? From some shit you can buy at the deli to this?”
Watch on TikTok
Feelfree responds
In an email to The Daily Dot, a Botanic Tonics spokesperson said the company’s products are not suitable for everyone, especially those with substance abuse issues.
“This is an important revision we’ve made from how we promoted our product at launch and it comes after listening to our customers,” the company said in a statement. “While only a small percentage of those who try it have had issues with the product, it’s really important to us that we get this right while serving the many people who find that a sense of freedom enriches their lives.”
The company said it acknowledges that long-term use of the substance can lead to addiction. The company said its labels currently include a warning that kratom leaf can be “addictive” if used irresponsibly.
“However, current scientific evidence does not clearly demonstrate functional impairment or compulsive use despite the adverse effects characteristic of addiction,” the researchers wrote. “There are important differences between natural leaf kratom, such as that used in Feel Free Classic, and concentrated extracts that carry a higher risk of dependence and side effects.”
The company also said: “A review of US Poison Control Center data for a range of substances on a per 100,000 user basis reveals that reports of poisoning with kratom and kava are registered at rates similar to those with energy drinks, as opposed to more harmful substances such as opioids, or common substances such as vitamins.”
In the comments section, users supported Adeoye and thanked her for bringing the issue to light.
“I’ve never heard of this. Thanks for letting me know. I have a teenage son and I have no idea what’s out there,” one commenter wrote.
“What’s scary is that the gas station in my neighborhood doesn’t accept cards. I saw a kid as young as 14 buying them so easily. It makes me so sad,” added another. Feel Free said: Website “Our products are not intended for consumption or sale to persons under the age of 21.”
“This is exactly my experience. I thought it was a ‘natural’ and safe alternative. But it has ruined my life in so many ways,” a third commenter revealed.
The Daily Dot reached out to Botanic Tonics via email and Adeoye via direct message on Instagram.
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