Ex-Addict Says Viral “Feel Free” Kratom Drink Is a Hidden Drug — FDA and TikTok Sound Alarm

Quinn Parker here, and yes I had too much coffee so buckle up because this is a spicy one.

Okay, so listen up: former addict Jasmine Adeoye is publicly calling the viral canned beverage “Feel Free” what it actually is — a kratom-laced product that she says acted like a full-blown drug in her life. On a recent appearance on “TMZ Live,” Adeoye detailed how she went from one can to a staggering 12 cans a day, describing the drink’s effects as euphoric and opioid-like. That claim aligns with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s 2018 classification of kratom as having opioid-like properties, and recent warnings from the FDA about “Feel Free” have fanned a broader online panic, particularly across TikTok.

Let me pour you the tea: Adeoye says she first sampled “Feel Free” while trying to quit binge drinking, after hearing the beverage mentioned on a wellness podcast. She did not know kratom was inside the can. Over time, what began as a craving for a replacement beverage mutated into a dependency so intense she was neck-deep in a dozen cans per day. She described sensations similar to prescription painkillers and a euphoric high, and she warns other people that the product should not be freely sold over the counter.

Here are the receipts. The FDA explicitly warned consumers against drinking “Feel Free” and noted safety concerns with kratom. Some states are responding by banning the product, and TikTok users have amplified warnings and personal accounts of adverse reactions. Adeoye argues that bans and alerts are necessary but not sufficient; because the drink went viral online, she believes lawmakers and retailers must treat it with the same urgency as any other controlled substance when public health is at risk.

Context is everything. Kratom comes from a Southeast Asian plant and has been used traditionally for its stimulant and opioid-like effects. In recent years it has surged in popularity in the United States as an unregulated herbal supplement, sold in powders, capsules and now in mainstream-looking canned beverages like “Feel Free.” The FDA has linked kratom to serious safety issues, including dependency and withdrawal, and Adeoye’s story is the kind of real-world account that public health officials point to when urging tighter controls.

Why this matters beyond one woman’s struggle: “Feel Free” was designed to look harmless and trend-friendly, which lowers the barrier for experimentation among people seeking wellness alternatives. When addictive chemicals are hidden in pretty packaging and viral content, the consequences become a public health problem, not just an influencer trend. Adeoye’s testimony highlights how a product can migrate from wellness niche to an accessible everyday beverage and create an unanticipated addiction risk.

What should readers do? Be skeptical of “herbal” claims on canned drinks and check labels — though Adeoye says she didn’t see kratom listed before she was hooked. Follow FDA alerts and local bans, and if you suspect dependency seek help from medical professionals or addiction services. This is one of those cases where viral marketing collided with a real substance risk, and people got hurt.

What happens next is the cliffhanger: will more states ban the drink, will retailers pull it voluntarily, and will regulators move to reclassify kratom products to curb distribution? Stay tuned, because if TikTok taught us anything it is that today’s trend can become tomorrow’s headline fast.

Okay, I need to calm down after that!

Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, TikTok discussions
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed