LUBBOCK, Texas — A popular drink sold at gas stations and labeled as “plant-based” is raising red flags among addiction experts in Lubbock.
Texas DPS offers driving reminders ahead of new school year
The drink, called Feel Free, contains kratom, a psychoactive substance that acts on opioid receptors. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved kratom and warns it may be addictive and potentially dangerous.
“It acts on your opioid receptors much like a painkiller would,” said Madison Martin, a licensed counselor at Fire Sky Recovery in Lubbock. “That feeling of euphoria and being pain-free can become very addictive.”
The company that makes Feel Free, Botanic Tonics, includes a warning on the bottle. It says the product “may be habit-forming and harmful if consumed irresponsibly” and should be avoided by people with a history of substance abuse…