FDA Warns Over Kratom-Containing Feel Free Drinks Amid TikTok Alerts

Feel Free tonics, containing kratom—a plant native to Southeast Asia with opioid-like effects—are raising alarms across the U.S. due to their addictive potential and widespread availability in gas stations, corner stores, and vape shops. The Food and Drug Administration classifies kratom as an opioid, though it is not federally regulated, with several states banning its sale. TikTok user Misha Brown went viral after recounting an incident where a teenager attempted to get him to buy Feel Free, prompting many others to share their own troubling experiences with the product. Health experts, including Dr. Robert Levy from the University of Minnesota Medical School, have treated multiple cases of kratom addiction and warn of its dangers. Another TikTok user, John, who had previously overcome heroin and meth addiction, became addicted to Feel Free and was hospitalized for withdrawal symptoms. The product's combination of kava root and kratom in small, shot-sized bottles marketed for relaxation and focus is causing growing concern among health officials and the public alike.