A “feel good” herbal supplement is facing backlash online after a number of social media users shared their stories of addiction and terrifying health effects.
Feel Free is sold at many gas stations and retailers across the United States. That is where influencer Misha Brown first heard of the product. On July 25, he posted a now-viral video, recounting how a teenage boy tried stealing his wallet outside a gas station after he refused to purchase a Feel Free tonic for the boy.
After Brown informed the cashier about what had just transpired, she pointed to Feel Free and told him that people were coming in multiple times a day to purchase the product. “It’s so addictive and people lose their minds,” Brown recalled the attendant telling him.
His video now has over 23 millions views and has sparked a wave of media attention. Social media users and experts alike are warning people about the addictive effects of products containing kratom, NBC News reported.
Launched in 2020, the drink is advertised online as for “whenever you want a mood lift, a caffeine-free energy boost, or a little extra focus.”
Notably, the ingredients in Feel Free’s Classic tonic include kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia that’s known for its stimulant and opioid-like effects.
Concerns around the ingredient and its effects are not new. Scott Gottlieb, then commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said in 2018 that evidence pointed to the presence of opioid compounds in kratom, that it acts in the brain the same way as opioids do, and that it comes with “potential for abuse.” It is currently banned in five states, according to a report from the Congressional Research Service.
On Reddit, a group dedicated to quitting Feel Free now has over 5,000 followers. Users have shared experiences that include skin infections, seizures, and stints in rehab. “These drinks are insane and not only leave you financially ruined but also physically and mentally,” one user wrote in a recent post.
Botanic Tonics, the company behind Feel Free, agreed to pay $8.75 million to settle a 2023 class action lawsuit that claimed it failed to warn consumers about the dangers of kratom.
Without admitting wrongdoing, the company has since updated its labels to warn that the drink may in fact be habit-forming. People with a history of substance abuse are advised to avoid using it.
Fast Company has contacted Botanic Tonics for comment.
In July, the FDA announced that it is recommending scheduling action to control products containing 7-OH, a byproduct of the kratom plant. This recommendation does not apply to natural kratom leaf products.
Following the announcement, Feel Free wrote that its Feel Free Classic tonic contains only natural leaf kratom, meaning the FDA’s proposed action would not affect the drink. “7-OH products bear absolutely no resemblance to the natural leaf kratom products that are used by more than 23 million Americans,” the company states.
The early-rate deadline for Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies Awards is Friday, September 5, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
