Susan and Patrick McKeown

I am a retired nurse practitioner and a certified prevention specialist. For the past 24 years my husband and I facilitate the weekly FASTER Family Support Group in Manchester for adults with a loved one with Substance Use Disorder. In the past few years, Kratom has become a significant and dangerous issue. It is touted as natural and will help one get off other drugs. Nothing could be further from the truth according to those who have used it. One individual used it to get off alcohol and found the withdrawal to be more horrendous than withdrawal from alcohol. This has been reported by at least two others in our group. It is an addictive drug. Yet, when I go in my local Cumberland Farms there at the register is a huge display in a locked plastic case! The workers say they hate it and often tell customers they can't find the key. What does that tell those of us who our concerned about public health. Please support this bill! Susan McKeown