Latest news with #JasmineAdeoye
New York Post
5 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Addictive natural drink Feel Free is hooking young people with horrible consequences: ‘literal flakes of skin flying off'
Feel Free appears as innocuous as a trendy new Kombucha, and it's billed as a natural way to get a little boost. Manufacturer Botanic Tonics advertises the drink as filled with 'plant ingredients' and perfect for 'whenever you want a mood lift, a caffeine-free energy boost, or a little extra focus.' But some hapless customers who picked up a little blue bottle at a convenience store or gas station learned the hard way the drinks — which contain kava and kratom extracts — can be severely addictive. Advertisement Jasmine Adeoye cut out alcohol in 2022 for a 'lifestyle change,' and heard about Feel Free on the Skinny Confidential podcast, where it was billed as a good alternative to social drinking. 9 Jasmine Adeoye started using Feel Free as an alternative to alcohol. Courtesy of Jasmine Adeoye 'The two hosts were actually taking a hiatus from alcohol and they were talking about Feel Free and how it was a really great alcohol alternative for sober people, and I was looking for something like that,' Adeoye, 30, of Austin, Texas, said. Advertisement When she heard about it yet again on Joe Rogan's show, she decided to try it. 'I wanted to overcome the social anxiety of not having alcohol anymore, and it made me feel really good, but from then on, it was just a slow progression,' she recalled. 'I had no idea, going into it, that it was addictive.' She was able to use it moderately for a year when in social drinking situations, but then a stressful job as an account manager pushed her into addiction in 2023. 9 Adeoye was using as much as twelve bottles of Feel Free a day at the peak of her addiction. Courtesy of Jasmine Adeoye Advertisement 'It started to progress to, one a day slowly, and then two to three a day, and then upwards of five or six, and at the absolute worst, like twelve bottles a day,' she admitted. 'I was spending easily $3,000 a month.' Pharmacist Ethan Melillo warns the combination of kava and kratom, both of which are legal ingredients in the US, is highly addictive. 'This combination is something you don't want to be mixing together,' he told The Post. 'I definitely think it should be banned. They're both regularly available supplements, but what concerns me is the combination of the two of them.' Kava is a depressant, while Kratom is a stimulant — which means they have opposite effects on the body. Advertisement Melillo, who is based in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, explained that kratom and kava each bind to different receptors in the brain, and can be extremely overstimulating in combination. 9 Pharmacist Ethan Melillo warns that the combination of kava and kratom makes Feel Free especially addictive. Courtesy of Ethan Melillo Kava, which is used to reduce stress and anxiety, binds to the same receptors as benzodiazepine drugs, like Xanax and Valium. Kratom interacts with the same receptors as opioids, which poses a risk of addiction and withdrawal. 'What I'm seeing is people [consuming] like two, three, four [drinks] a day, because once you build that tolerance, your body will want more of it,' he explained. 'I'm not surprised that people are getting addicted to this, and that's what's so concerning about supplements. Usually they will only get pulled after people are having side effects.' Adeoye went to great lengths to hide her dependence: 'I would hop around from gas station to gas station because I was so embarrassed about the amount that I was buying. I would even get them on UberEats sometimes so I didn't have to face anyone.' She says her addiction took a toll physically and emotionally. 9 Jasmine Adeoye was able to quit Feel Free cold turkey but went through withdrawal. Courtesy of Jasmine Adeoye Advertisement 'I was lethargic, depressed, anxious, barely able to get out of bed,' she said. 'I was throwing up from the kratom, and the kava can make your skin dry, like alligator skin, literal flakes of skin just like flying off.' But she finally fessed up to her fiancé and her mom in March of 2024 and cut herself off cold turkey. She went through four days of miserable withdrawal, followed by two weeks of strong cravings, and finally felt fully back to herself after six months. Although FeelFree is a 21+ age restricted item, kids have been figuring out how to get their hands on them. Instagram creator Michael Brown posted a video to his followers warning about the drink after he says he was approached by 'a child' who was 'maybe fourteen years old' at a gas station begging him to purchase a Feel Free for him. Advertisement 9 Feel Free is marketed as a natural, plant-based way to get a quick boost. Feel Free Tonics 9 Feel Free is available for purchase at gas stations, convenience stores, and CBD shops. Feel Free Tonics 'He comes up to me and he says, 'Hey can you buy me some Feel Free,'' Brown alleged. When he informed the attendant, he was told she has some customers coming in five to six times a day to purchase it and that 'people act like… they have heroin addictions over this little drink.' Some users of Feel Free start using the product because they think it's a healthy alternative to other drugs. Advertisement Chris Oflyng first started using kratom powder at age 19, as a natural way to ween off of prescribed Adderall. 'I was like, 'Oh, [the Adderall] is not a positive thing in my life, it's something I should stay away from,' he told The Post. Five years later, in 2021, Feel Free hit the market — and Oflyng found himself hooked on its combination of kava and kratom. 9 Chris Oflyng has struggled with an on and off addiction to Feel Free for years. Courtesy of Chris Oflyng 'Products like Feel Free are really, really awful,' the 28-year-old from Madison, Wisconsin, said. 'I developed a codependency of using kava and kratom, due to the introduction of that product, and I don't think I knew it was as addictive as it could be in that combination.' Advertisement He describes the sensation as 'something like relaxation, but also stimulation.' 'At first it worked really, really well and gave me what I perceived to be an enhanced focus,' Oflyng, who works in donor development, said. 'I was able to accomplish more. But then the effect started to fade, and once you're addicted to it, it's just chasing the relief after cravings.' Oflyng has struggled with addictions to Feel Free 'on and off for the past couple years' and has been in and out of treatment for his addiction. 9 Oflyng says Feel Free products made him feel depressed. Courtesy of Chris Oflyng 9 Oflyng claims he has spent at least $40,000 on Feel Free and kratom products throughout the years. Courtesy of Chris Oflyng 'I would buy Feel Frees every time I would relapse,' he explained. 'You could just get them from a smoke shop or a gas station. It's just so readily accessible.' Oflyng says Feel Free derailed his life. 'The biggest downside was the depression that came with it for me,' he recalled. 'I've made a lot of progress, but, looking back and talking about it now, it's just like, why haven't I seized a lot of opportunities in my life? And I can point it all back to kratom and kava.' Oflyng estimates he's spent 'at least $40,000 over the years' between kratom powder and Feel Free drinks. 'A lot of people might be like, 'Oh, it's a plant, it's natural,' but it will catch up with you,' he warned.
Buzz Feed
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Feel Free: Viral TikToks Show Potential Risks Of Tonic
Warning: Discussion of drug abuse. 'No joking. This video is a warning, specifically for parents, but I guess really for anybody. Something truly disturbing just happened to me,' he begins in the TikTok, which has since been viewed over 19 million times and details how, earlier that day, he was approached by a 'child' who was 'maybe 14 years old' at a gas station. 'He comes up to me and he says, 'Hey, can you buy me some Feel Free?'' Misha had no idea what Feel Free was, and after he declined the person's request, he says the aftermath was swift: 'This young kid lunged at me and tried to take my wallet out of my hand.' He also says he told the gas station attendant about the incident, who replied that some customers would purchase Feel Free 'five [or] six times a day.' 'I think that is very telling of how scary this substance is, especially when it's marketed as safe,' Misha says to BuzzFeed about the response his TikTok received. 'One positive that has come from my video is the amount of parents I've seen who said they, like me, had never heard of this product and will be talking to their children about avoiding it.' Feel Free's most well-known variant — the 'Classic' tonic made by the company Botanic Tonics, which also makes a 'Kava Maté' and capsules — is advertised as a 'feel-good tonic that features kava root and other plant ingredients known to help with relaxation, productivity and focus.' A bottle contains two servings, and the website does tell buyers to 'consume responsibly' and not take more than a bottle every 24 hours. Their ingredients label lists kava root extract, a depressant, and ground leaf kratom, a drug that can provide both stimulant and sedative effects depending on the quantity. In the FAQ section of the site, it tells consumers that 'most commonly, you'll feel more social and a calm, focused boost of energy.' If you look at the front of the bottle, you'll notice the words 'consume responsibly near the bottom'; according to the company, that advisory was added to the packaging last year along with a warning that reads, 'This product contains leaf kratom which, like caffeine and alcohol, can become habit-forming and harmful to your health if consumed irresponsibly. Consider avoiding any potentially habit-forming substances if you have a history of substance abuse. If consumed in recommended quantities, feel free CLASSIC has not been shown to cause any serious physical or social harm. Caution: This product is not for consumption by or sale to persons under the age of 21.' Misha isn't the only person who's gone viral for their anecdotes about Feel Free. Jasmine Adeoye, a 30-year-old based in Austin, has had numerous TikToks about her experiences with the tonic pass the million-view mark. She first bought Feel Free in 2022, after hearing it advertised on numerous major podcasts as a safe alternative to alcohol. She told BuzzFeed that she initially used the product occasionally for around a year, until she found herself in an incredibly stressful job. 'At the most, it was 12 [bottles] a day. That was like just taking them to feel normal in any way, shape, or form,' she said. 'It was like, 'Oh, I can't physically get out of bed unless I take this.' At the height of what she says was her addiction, Jasmine claimed that she had 'super, super dry and flaky skin,' adding, 'It was like alligator skin, I would take my clothes off, and flakes of skin would fall off of my body.' She further said that 'chunks of [her] teeth were falling out' as a result of throwing up so often. After telling her mother and now-husband the extent of her use in 2024, Jasmine was able to find sobriety. She began making TikToks shortly afterwards. 'When I got sober, I knew that I wanted to talk about it publicly. I was, like, 'I cannot be the only person going through this,'' she said. 'I expected some people to resonate with it, but not on the level that it actually did, which makes me sad.' So, what does Feel Free have to say about the users' claimed experiences? When asked for comment on these users' alleged experience, Botanic Tonics directed BuzzFeed to a statement that said, 'Botanic Tonics is leading the industry in our commitment to providing consumer education and transparency and we will continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our customers above all else." 'Our website features a comprehensive 'Learn' section with detailed resources about our ingredients, including dedicated information about kratom. We believe informed consumers make better choices, and we're committed to providing clear, accurate information. All Botanic Tonics products are manufactured in our FDA-registered, cGMP-certified Oklahoma facility, ensuring uncompromising quality and potency,' they continued. It's not just TikTok where users are claiming negative experiences. There are 5k members in the subreddit R/Quittingfeelfree, where users about their sobriety experiences. Amongst those who spoke to BuzzFeed, some were previous opioid users who found themselves caught up in what they claim was the cycle of addiction again. Justin, a 43-year-old who was previously sober for six years, said he saw a Feel Free ad offering 'energy and calm' in a gas station before work. He quickly bought two, despite having read about kratom addiction previously. 'It did what it said it would do,' he claimed. 'Meth wasn't this hard to quit. This stuff is a special kind of bad.' But some say they had no problems with substance abuse whatsoever. Lisa, a 63-year-old mother of three from South Jersey, said that a friend suggested Feel Free just over three years ago as an alternative to a cocktail. 'I don't have an alcohol problem. I just thought it would be fun to have something else that was natural,' she said, opting to order the drink online after watching a podcast interview with the company's creator. 'It was marketed as being safe and healthy, and that you would get a natural euphoric feeling from it. I was using it sporadically, and I was using it safely.' Things changed when two things happened in quick succession: Lisa broke her shoulder and one of her daughters became estranged from her. Amid the stress and pain, her Feel Free intake rose to five a day, purchased from her local 7/11. Realizing she had a problem around a year ago, she's now consulting with drug addiction professionals to find the best way forward.'Your skin gets so dry and itchy. If you don't take it and you are trying to sleep, you get restless legs. It wakes you up,' she claimed. 'But when you try to take it, sometimes you vomit. It's horrific, and for somebody like me, who was a professional and a mom, I can't believe this has happened to me.' Similarly, 30-year-old Detroit resident Anthony said he previously used kratom and kava 'in moderation.' He tried Feel Free after seeing it advertised in a gas station. 'It tasted horrible, but within a matter of minutes, I felt a rush that I've never felt before using regular kratom,' he said. After a few months, he said his use escalated to 10-12 bottles a day. 'Roughly $120 a day addiction. Before I knew it, I was spending my entire paycheck on these blue devils.' But it wasn't just Feel Free that was available to him. 7-hydroxymitragynine, 'a concentrated byproduct of the kratom plant' also known as 7-OH, can bind itself to opioid receptors in the brain. It's been found to be more potent than morphine in treating pain. It was during his time on Feel Free that Anthony said he started using 7-OH tablets as well, using cash advance apps and a $2,000 loan to fund his addiction. 'I'm currently in the process of tapering both the 7-OHs and the Feel Free. I'm in a better place mentally and financially, but have a mountain to climb,' he said. 'The withdrawals are unfathomable.' When asked for comment, HHS pointed BuzzFeed to recent news that the FDA is now taking steps to limit the availability of 7-OH. But a product like Feel Free, which claims not to artificially inflate its 7-OH levels, doesn't fall under these proposed regulations. "Our products contain trace amounts of 7-OH that occur naturally during the traditional drying process — levels that are dramatically different from the concentrated synthetic products now under FDA scrutiny,' Botanic Tonics said in a statement after the FDA announced its new plans on 7-OH. "Leaf kratom is different than concentrated 7-OH, a kratom synthetic that the FDA announced that they are moving to ban. Botanic Tonics should not be included when referring to 7-OH products," they further said in a statement to BuzzFeed. Recovery from kratom products can be a challenging road. Mike, a 37-year-old based near Sacramento, found himself in a financial 'disaster' after at times using over 12 bottles a day. 'I've maxed out four credit cards and taken out loans totaling over $50,000. I had to enroll in a debt relief program last year because I couldn't make my minimum payments,' he said. In recent days, he says that he's been trying to quit Feel Free, but relapsed before a big work day after only getting a handful of hours of sleep the previous few nights. He's found that some people in 12-step programs don't take kratom addiction seriously and has had difficulties abusing Suboxone and Feel Free simultaneously. He's considered rehab, but he works for a 'cutthroat' major company that he says can look down on taking leave. As he put it, 'I'm not sure if I'm at the point yet where I'm willing to lose my job because I don't want to screw things up for my kid.'
