By: Rylee Baker
It’s no surprise that 66% of Americans drink coffee every day, according to the American Coffee Association. Especially when having classes, work, homework, clubs and activities, life gets exhausting, and that extra pick-up during the day can be a game-changer. But things get repetitive, and the effects of coffee can start to lessen. Some people don’t even like coffee or energy drinks, leaving them without an instant way to wake up.
Well, at least that was before modern times. Now it’s super easy to find little pick-ups anywhere. There are coffee shops on every corner, caffeine pills, caffeine shots, and caffeine gum. Essentially, here’s a source of energy for everyone! This was until Botanic Tonics released a wellness drink called “Feel Free.”
Botanic Tonics is a health and wellness store that sells tonics and pills that include vitamins and other ingredients, with the intention of making their consumers feel better. In 2022, one drink began to grow in popularity, a small bottle called “Feel Free,” that was meant to be a mood booster. The description on the Botanic Tonics website says, “Our original feel-good tonic features kava root and other plant ingredients known to help with relaxation, productivity, and focus.”
It sounds great! Especially with reviews saying the product really does work and that people felt a lot more focused and energized after consuming the drink. There’s one catch, though. That other plant ingredient is a highly addictive substance known as Kratom.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), “Consumption of its leaves (Kratom) produces both stimulant effects (in low doses) and sedative effects (in high doses), and can lead to psychotic symptoms, and psychological and physiological dependence.”
This drug is often marketed as a safe wellness shot that will help enhance your mood better than any caffeine will. And it’s true, it will feel better than caffeine because it’s not caffeine, it’s an addictive stimulant. So, is it ethical to sell these drinks as wellness mood boosting shots, even though the ingredients are highly addictive?
The drinks are marketed as 21+ and sold at different convenience stores, gas stations and vape shops around the U.S. You can get your own bottle at Smokers Express on Market Street. Everybody indeed has free will, and therefore, if you’re 21 or older, it’s up to you to do your own research and decide to purchase the product. But its advertising simply isn’t true.
Anyone who’s ever attempted to buy something from a gas station or vape shop knows that identification carding is few and far between. It’s extremely easy to get anything at these stores, where age isn’t exactly a priority. This has led to many underage kids being able to get their hands on the product.
There’s also no label on the package that states the drink can become addictive. The small warning on the back reads, “Consider avoiding any potentially habit-forming substances if you have a history of substance abuse.” This basically dances around the phrase; this drink is addictive.
Not to mention, the habit is not cheap! The regular bottle is two ounces. In comparison, a regular plastic water bottle is 16 ounces. So, it’s very small and costs around $15 a bottle. Each bottle is meant to be two doses, which lasts two days. But with its addictive properties, the idea of only drinking half a bottle a day quickly gets thrown down the drain.
Tik Tok influencer, Jasmine Adeoye, publicly shared her journey with addiction to Feel Free drinks. She said in one video, “I was drinking anywhere from nine or 12 bottles a day.” That would have cost her $150 a day or $4,500 a month.
Adeoye went into detail about how dependent she felt on the drink, and she claimed she always needed to have one for any social event. Something many drug addicts have dealt with, not being able to go out in public sober.
Selling highly addictive drugs as regular consumer products is not new and will most likely continue to be around for a long time. Even if the “Feel Free” products get pulled from shelves, another brand will quickly replace them. But what do you think? Should the FDA be allowing these types of products to be sold, even if it’s 21+?