A viral TikTok video has spotlighted growing worries over the herbal drink “Feel Free,” as reports emerge of addiction and dangerous withdrawal symptoms linked to the product.
Misha Brown, 37, shared his unsettling encounter with a teenager seeking the tonic at a local Circle K in Austin. When Brown refused to purchase the drink, the teen allegedly attempted to grab his wallet.
In Brown’s widely viewed TikTok, which has surpassed 23 million views, he recounted a conversation with a store clerk who said customers were buying “Feel Free” up to six times daily.
The clerk described the drink as “so addictive” that it causes people to “lose their minds.” Brown had not heard of the product prior to the incident, but the video ignited a wave of comments from young users sharing troubling experiences.
“Feel Free,” produced by Botanic Tonics since 2020, is marketed as an herbal supplement promoting relaxation, productivity, and focus. It contains kava root, known for its calming properties, and kratom, a Southeast Asian plant with stimulant and opioid-like effects.
Experts and health officials are primarily alarmed by kratom, which the FDA designated an opioid in 2018. While kratom remains federally unregulated, five U.S. states have banned it.
Dr. Robert Levy, an addiction medicine specialist at the University of Minnesota Medical School, expressed concern over kratom’s addictive potential. “I’ve treated kratom addiction many times,” Levy said.
John, a 35-year-old from Columbia, South Carolina, who has publicly shared his struggles on TikTok, relapsed into addiction after trying “Feel Free” in early 2024.
Previously sober for eight years from heroin and meth, John said the product gave him warmth and energy but soon consumed his life. Within eight months, he was consuming nearly a case daily, spending roughly $30,000, losing his job, and resorting to theft to sustain his habit.
Online communities have emerged warning about “Feel Free.” A Reddit group dedicated to quitting the product has more than 5,000 members, with users urging others to avoid it entirely.
Botanic Tonics settled a 2023 class action lawsuit for $8.75 million over failure to warn consumers about kratom’s risks and claims positioning the tonic as a safe alcohol alternative.
The company denies wrongdoing but updated its labels to include habit-forming warnings and cautions for those with substance abuse histories. In a statement, Botanic Tonics criticized what it called “false and misleading claims” circulating on social media and news outlets, noting that fewer than 1,000 adverse event complaints have been reported from over 129 million servings sold.
Kratom’s effects and risks have been studied for years. It is often used by individuals to self-manage pain, anxiety, depression, and opioid withdrawal. However, experts warn of side effects including gastrointestinal distress, elevated heart rate, insomnia, seizures, hallucinations, and potential liver damage.
The FDA recently urged the Justice Department to classify one of kratom’s main compounds, 7-OH, as a Schedule I drug due to its high potency and abuse risk.
The tonic’s small 2-ounce bottles recommend limiting consumption to half a bottle per day, with warnings about habit formation. Addiction specialists caution that those in recovery from substance abuse are particularly vulnerable to relapse triggered by products like “Feel Free.”
Several states, including Utah, have banned “Feel Free,” citing concerns about the product’s altered kratom formulation and potential harm.
John’s withdrawal symptoms were severe enough to require hospitalization in February, where he faced respiratory complications and was placed on a ventilator. He shared his story to warn others about the product’s dangers.
Brown, who identified as a former drinker, emphasized the product’s risk: “If this is marketed as an alcohol substitute or energy drink and is so easily accessible, it’s very dangerous.”
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