Kratom Drink – “Feel Free” Kratom Drink: The Addictive Beverage Hooking Young Adults with Dangerous Side Effects

Natural Energy Drink or Hidden Danger? The Dark Side of Kratom & Kava Drinks

A trendy new drink called Feel Free, marketed as a natural mood booster and alcohol alternative, is causing severe addiction among young adults—with some users experiencing horrific withdrawal symptoms, including “literal flakes of skin flying off.”

Manufactured by Botanic Tonics, the drink is advertised as a “plant-based” energy enhancer, free from caffeine but packed with kava and kratom extracts—two substances that, when combined, create a highly addictive and potentially dangerous concoction.

From Social Boost to Full-Blown Addiction

Jasmine Adeoye, a 30-year-old from Austin, Texas, initially turned to Feel Free as an alcohol substitute after hearing about it on popular podcasts like The Skinny Confidential and The Joe Rogan Experience.

“It made me feel really good at first, but then it became a slow progression into addiction,” Adeoye admitted. What started as an occasional social drink spiraled into a $3,000-a-month habit, with her consuming up to 12 bottles a day.

Kratom & Kava: A Toxic Mix?

Pharmacist Ethan Melillo warns that the combination of kava (a depressant) and kratom (a stimulant) is particularly hazardous.

“They bind to different brain receptors—kava acts like benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium), while kratom mimics opioids,” Melillo explained. “This mix can lead to severe dependency, withdrawal, and dangerous side effects.”

Physical & Emotional Toll

Adeoye’s addiction left her “lethargic, depressed, and barely able to get out of bed.” She described:

“The kratom made me vomit, and the kava dried my skin so badly that flakes were peeling off.”

After a brutal cold-turkey withdrawal, she finally regained control—but not without immense struggle.

Teens Are Getting Hooked Too

Despite being age-restricted (21+), minors are finding ways to access Feel Free. Instagram creator Michael Brown shared an alarming encounter where a 14-year-old begged him to buy the drink at a gas station.

Gas station attendants report customers “acting like they have heroin addictions”, purchasing multiple bottles daily.

A False Sense of Safety

Some users, like Chris Oflyng, turned to Feel Free believing it was a “healthier” alternative to prescription drugs. After using kratom to quit Adderall, he found himself hooked on Feel Free, leading to missed opportunities and deep depression.

“I can point all my setbacks back to kratom and kava,” he admitted.

Should “Feel Free” Be Banned?

With rising addiction cases and severe side effects, experts like Melillo argue:

“This combination should be banned. It’s too dangerous.”

As more victims come forward, the question remains: Is this “natural” drink a wellness trend or a public health crisis?