I Was Told Kratom Was Harmless...It Was The Hardest Thing I Ever Quit

Tiffany Mercer flew across the country to tell a story most people in recovery have never heard put into words. She’d already done the hard work — sober from alcohol, years of meetings, treatment at Hazelden Betty Ford, rebuilding her life as a mom. Then, in the middle of a brutal divorce, a friend handed her what everyone called a harmless, non-addictive herbal supplement for anxiety and sleep: kratom. Within two months she was taking it around the clock just to keep from getting sick, buying powder scooped out of unlabeled buckets, and quietly losing the joy in everything she loved. What followed was, in her words, the hardest thing she has ever done — a withdrawal worse than opiates or Xanax, a cold-turkey Super Bowl weekend that didn’t end on Monday, a three-week taper, detox, and the darkest night of her life. In this conversation she’s honest about all of it: the childhood that taught her to fake a perfect family, the relapses, the custody fight, and the faith, community, and small moments of joy that carried her through to where she is now — 17 months free, running her kratom-awareness platform Kicking Kratom and building her juice company, Big T Juice. Sponsored by Caron Treatment Centers My recovery journey began at Caron Treatment Centers, and the care I received there changed the course of my life. That's why I'm proud to partner with Caron. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, Caron has been helping individuals and families find hope and lasting recovery for nearly 70 years. They are in-network with all major insurance providers, and same-day admission is available. ➡️ Learn more: https://www.caron.org/lp/rise-above 📞 Call Caron today: 855-352-0103 Recovery starts with taking the first step. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices