Anyone familiar with kratom knows that the FDA has been ruthlessly targeting the kratom industry over the past few years. The FDA cites 44 deaths as the real reason for the enhanced concern, but is that the truth? Numerous sources would suggest otherwise, and that the true reason for the attacks are all circulated around pharmacuetucals and money. Lots of it!
The Truth About Kratom Deaths
Concern over the deaths of 44 individuals is the main focus of the FDA’s attacks on kratom, or at least that is what Scott Gottlieb claims. However tragic these deaths are, they are all related to kratom being mixed with a combination of other opioids, benzodiazepines, the drug gabapentin, and numerous other pharmaceuticals. Along with pharmaceuticals, adulterated kratom is also to blame. Kratom found to be laced with other substances, rather than just pure kratom, is truly at fault for these untimely deaths.
Recently, a prominent molecular biologist named Dr. Jane Babin revealed her groundbreaking study that proves how the FDA is falsely accusing kratom for the deaths of the 44. According to Babin, the FDA’s claim that kratom should be illegal is greatly undermined by incomplete data and their final analysis is incomplete. Her published professional study goes on to prove the safety of using kratom, when only consumed by itself. You can click here to read more about her remarkable study, and even download the original paper in pdf form by clicking here.
FDA Committee: Follow the Paper Trail
Members of the FDA committee are the ones who regulate, and either approve or disapprove any new drug put onto the market. This committee is comprised up of well-established doctors and independent researchers, in an effort to sway any undue influence and conflicts of interest. These committee members are required to release information about any pending employer, but not required to release any information about financial incentives or monetary payments relinquished by these drug manufacturers. Obviously, there seems to be an abundance of conflicts of interest and personal agendas on this exclusive commitee.
According to numerous online sources, members of the FDA committee receive hefty kickbacks once a new drug is approved to the market. Science magazine published an astonishing piece on this horrible conflict of interest in July of this year.
The study shed light on the fact that one panelist in Maryland was compensated over $200,000 in kickbacks over a 2 year period for being on the panel that approved a new drug designed to limit heart attacks and strokes, called Brilenta. The new drug was created by one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, AstraZeneca. The study went onto show how over the next few years, over $11,000 in residuals were also awarded for accommodations and varying fees for appearing on advisory boards for clinical trials to the same committee member by AstraZeneca.
This is not just one isolated occurrance. Between 2008 and 2014, Science discovered numerous widespread payments made after drugs were awarded clearance to the market by panel members. It was further discovered that payments were made to the panelists by competing drug companies as a way of persuading them to not allow another drug to compete with their sales. Hefty funds were also awarded to individual panelist’s institutions as “associated research” funding.
- Of the 107 physician advisors, over 40 received more than $10,000 in post-hoc earnings or research investments.
- 26 of the 40 received more than $100,000, and six gained over $1 million in investment deposits and various payments.
- 93% of the near $24 million in personal payments and research support to the 16 top-earning panelists came directly from the makers of drugs or their direct competitors.
Kratom is Competition
With so many Americans opting for a more holistic approach to their health, the pharmaceutical industry is losing millions of dollars in annual drug sales. The main loss of income is from opioid pain medication and addiction replacement therapy drugs, which generate billions in income per year. To be precise, nearly $43M from the United States alone is projected for the fiscal year 2021 (Persistance Market Research).
Scott Gottlieb showed his concern in a recent article, stating the real reason he is so concerned over kratom. He went on to say that there are three approved drugs for opioid addiction recovery that are approved by the FDA. This being after he viciously cited kratom as “just another opiate.” These three drugs, in his words, are the only answer, and kratom should be made illegal. Click here to read the entire press release concerning kratom’s replacement for opioid addiction from the FDA.
A Never-Ending Battle
In conclusion, kratom has been scientifically proven to be a safe and effective alternative for numerous health problems by many prominent scientific researchers. The esteemed committe members on the FDA only wish to ban the helpful supplement because it will cost them dearly in the end. The only alternative to banning kratom completely, is to somehow put it into the pharmaceutical system as an approved drug. This way, everyone will gain from it. The FDA panelists will gain monetary payments from the few pharmaceutical companys who will take control of the key alkaloids and place into a pill from, and the consumer will get a weakend and adulterated form of pure kratom.
The FDA’s war on kratom has been publically exposed for the lies it has told, and for their real billions of reasons why they want to end kratom’s reign. As members of the kratom community, all we can do is push forward and continue the heat we have been placing on the FDA to discontinue their war efforts and leave us be. With the public now aware of the financial gain associated with the discontinuation of kratom, perhaps we now have even more leverage.