A drink called Feel Free is popping up in communities across South Carolina. For a truck driver or anyone else who’s on the road as much as Tyler Smith, Feel Free can be everywhere in sight. 

“At every truck stop, almost, at every smoke shop, like there’s 20 different places to get it within 10 minutes from my house,” Smith said. “I’m scared to calculate how much money we’ve spent on these things, probably $50,000.” 

At first, Tyler used Feel Free as a little pick-me-up or mood booster, but now he relies on it and has been hooked for around three years.

Tyler underestimated the addictive properties of Feel Free that are listed on the packaging and he was drinking it to decompress or get a boost of energy pretty often, sometimes up to eight or nine times a day.

The reason behind this may stem from the concoction of ingredients that make up Feel Free. 

Feel Free Classic is a two-serving drink made from Kava Root extract, Leaf Kratom, Mitragynine, and 7-hydroxymitagrynine or 7-OH. There are other variants and flavors of the drink but not one of these listed ingredients is FDA approved. 

The exact amount of this important ingredient 7-OH is not specified on Feel Free labeling. Even the smallest amount of this 7-OH compound can bind with the same central nervous system receptors that opioids bind to. 

“Feel free is only different in that the more you use it, the more addicted you will become,” said Ashlee Martin, a licensed addiction counselor. 

Feel Free and other kratom products have been banned in six states.  More legislation is up for discussion in the South Carolina State House to protect communities from kratom addiction.

The FDA continues to warn consumers about kratom products as more studies and conclusive evidence is needed to approve these products for medical or consumer use. 

Botanic Tonics the makers of Feel Free provided us a statement that said in part “We take our responsibility to consumers seriously. That means transparency about what’s in our products, appropriate labeling, and supporting the kind of science-based regulatory distinctions the FDA itself has now made clear.” 

More information about classifications and studies on kratom can be found on the FDA’s website and NIH.gov.