Residents and recovery providers say kratom is complicating treatment and driving demand for services

Multiple people in recovery and treatment providers told Berkeley County officials that kratom is fueling new treatment needs and complicating legal and recovery supports.

Matthew Hunter, a person in recovery, said kratom made him "addicted...so fast," described blacking out at home and spending a month at MUSC’s burn unit after an episode, and credited the Kennedy Center with saving his life. Others in recovery said they are seeing relapses or new entrants to treatment because of kratom and urged that sober houses, courts and treatment panels begin routine kratom testing.

Treatment providers at the Ernestine Kennedy Center told the audience they have already added kratom to their urine testing panels and that kratom frequently ranks among the top five positive results on standard panels at some centers. Providers described patterns of daily use, escalating doses and withdrawal that can require clinical tapering with medication‑assisted treatment.

Prevention and service recommendations included increasing funding for school‑based prevention, public education to counter the "natural = safe" perception, community awareness campaigns, and clearer retail age‑of‑sale enforcement. Attendees asked how much of pending legislation should prioritize prevention funding; panelists repeatedly answered: "Every single penny that we can."

Ending: No formal programmatic commitments were made at the meeting; presenters asked community members to share names and contact information to support legislative advocacy and to help connect individuals to free peer services offered by Wake Up Carolina and local treatment centers.