Kratom in the Workplace
Kratom is a Southeast Asian plant emerging in American markets as a potential stimulant. Because the plant is in the coffee family and acts on opioid receptors in the brain, in small doses it can have stimulant, energy-boosting effects, while in larger doses it can have opioid-like, sedative effects. Since the former can help workers stay awake over longer periods of time, Kratom is also emerging in the workplace. Keep reading to find out more about Kratom’s role in the workplace.
The Impact on Employees
Like many other addictive substances, Kratom use impacts your mental state, and makes you unfit to work. Using the plant, particularly in higher doses, can induce drowsiness, make concentrating on complex tasks difficult, slow your reaction times – all of which can impair job performance and put you, and others, at risk of injury or disciplinary action. Roles requiring the operation of heavy machinery, like construction work, become increasingly dangerous when you’re not completely alert and oriented.
Kratom use can also lead to accidents, injuries, and misjudgments due to impaired decision-making and coordination. People employed in blue collar positions may be at greater risk of causing themselves or others bodily harm if they use Kratom, since it can cause disorientation, fatigue, and hallucinations.
Finally, Kratom is addictive, and over time, causes your body to become dependent on its use to maintain normal function. Chronic Kratom use is not sustainable in the workplace, as more frequent use can lead to absenteeism and decreased productivity, as your attention becomes devoted to sourcing more Kratom.
Legal and Policy Considerations
It’s also important to consider the legal implications of Kratom use, and the policy complications that may arise with it. Currently, Kratom is mostly unregulated in the United States, as the FDA has yet to enact any kind of nationwide federal restriction on Kratom use, purchase, possession, and sale. However, some states and smaller jurisdictions have issued their own restrictions, with places like Vermont banning the plant outright. For these states, Kratom use in the workplace is also subsequently banned.
Despite the inconsistent legal status of Kratom in the U.S., many employers have developed their own workplace intoxication policies independent of federal regulations on Kratom. Many employers have chosen to treat Kratom as an intoxicating substance, like other substances such as alcohol and drugs, which can result in disciplinary action if used on campus.
Since Kratom is a relatively new substance in the U.S., and since it’s mostly unregulated, many pre-employment drug screenings don’t test for Kratom use. Nevertheless, it is possible to detect Kratom use in a standard urine screening. The type of urine test performed on prospective employees varies by company, but generally, Kratom use poses a significant liability to corporations, as intoxicated workers can lead to accident, injury, and in extreme cases, death. Still, the legality of discriminating against Kratom users remains uncertain.
What should you do?
Because Kratom is addictive and has psychoactive properties, you should avoid using it on the job. In doing so, you put yourself and others at risk of bodily harm, and you could face disciplinary action or expulsion from the company.
If you use Kratom for its purported energy boosting properties, try a safer, natural remedy like coffee or tea, which can help keep you awake without the potential for harm and mind-altering side effects.
If you find that you cannot get through a workday without Kratom, then you should reconsider your Kratom use and seek treatment. Help is always available, and high-quality addiction treatment is the first step towards a happy, and healthy, recovery from substance use.