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What is going on with these “Feel Free” drinks?

Gas station heroin is being sold as a wellness drink.

Author

Casey Latto
August 14, 2025

I keep running into horror stories. Someone grabs a “wellness” drink, gets a nice buzz, and a few months later, they’re fighting withdrawals after getting addicted. The drink is Feel Free. You can buy it at gas stations and convenience stores, marketed as a productivity booster and a healthier alternative to alcohol.

I looked into it. Among a host of other questionable ingredients, these drinks include kratom, a plant compound that hits the same receptors opioids use. That explains the “I can’t stop” posts and why some people call it “gas station heroin.”

The worst part is that teens are getting their hands on those little blue bottles. Parents think it’s harmless because it’s plant-based and sits next to energy shots. It’s not. ⚠️

We must read labels. If you don’t know what an ingredient is, don’t consume it. Ask a wise source for help.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit… you are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19–20

Why this matters right now

  • These bottles and seltzers sit near energy shots. Casual access lowers our guard.

  • Labels and formulas can change. Some versions have included kratom, others kava (both questionable). Always read labels, every time.

  • “Plant-based” sounds safe. Natural is not the same as wise.

  • Withdrawal stories are everywhere on TikTok, but that isn’t exactly where most parents spend their time.

We are called to be sober-minded and self-controlled. Here is what to know and how to respond.

Feel Free and kratom in plain words

  • What kratom is: Leaves from a Southeast Asian tree, Mitragyna speciosa.

  • Why this matters: The main alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, hit the same receptors opioids use. Low doses may feel stimulating. Regular or higher doses can feel calming or sedating. The brain adapts. Dependence can form.

  • What withdrawal can feel like: Anxiety, irritability, insomnia, muscle aches, chills, nausea, sweating, diarrhea, and cravings. Many describe it as a mild to moderate opioid style withdrawal.

  • Labels are slippery: Products are loosely regulated, doses vary, and some blends add caffeine or other botanicals. Formulas change. If you do not know what an ingredient is or does, ask for help.

How people are getting hooked in 2025

  • Alcohol alternatives. Feel Free and similar drinks are often marketed to people who do not drink. That can lower your guard. You think you are choosing the healthy social option, but you may be drinking something even worse.

  • Tiny bottles, big effects. Gas station shots feel casual. The effect is not.

  • Stress relief on demand. Reach for a bottle after work, then again tomorrow, and daily use can easily creep in.

What to do before you buy

🙏 Pause and pray. Ask the Lord for discernment.

🏷️ Read the entire label. Look for kratom, leaf kratom, mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, kava, kava root, or “proprietary blend.” If you do not know what something is, do not drink it.

🍳 Build real energy. Morning sunlight, protein-rich meals, strength training, mineral-rich water, and consistent sleep do far more for mood and focus. 💪

If you are already using Feel Free or kratom

This is not medical advice. It is a path of wisdom to consider.

  1. Tell someone godly today. Confess and ask for prayer. James 5:16

  2. Do not stack. Stop mixing with alcohol, benzos, or sleep meds while you seek help.

  3. Make a safe plan. Talk with a qualified clinician about a taper. Cold turkey can be rough.

  4. Strengthen your body. Hydrate, eat protein, get morning sunlight, walk daily.

  5. Lean on community. Ask a trusted friend, pastor, or small group to check in daily. 🤝

  6. Replace the cue. The after-work bottle can become an evening walk, a game of pickleball, a new dance class, a cold shower, magnesium-rich whole foods, or prayer with a friend.

Simple script for your clinician: “I have been using kratom regularly. I want to stop and avoid severe withdrawal. Can you help me create a slow taper plan and monitor me as I come off?”

We do not outsource discernment

Agencies can warn, approve, or delay, and their positions shift constantly. The FDA has been inconsistent and slow. Case in point: they’re now moving to ban synthetic versions of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), one of the main active compounds in kratom, but not the natural version… even though both act on the same opioid receptors. 🤔

How does that make sense?

It doesn’t — unless you realize these agencies are not the standard of truth. They follow politics, pressure, and profit. We don’t. We follow Scripture.

Christians anchor to the Word of God. We do not outsource our discernment to regulatory agencies. We use wisdom, self-control, and godly counsel. Be alert. Test everything. Do not be mastered.

“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

Think critically about everything you put into your body. If you are unsure, ask for help from a wise source.

Scriptures to study

1 Corinthians 6:12, 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Romans 12:1, Galatians 5:22–23, Proverbs 25:28, 1 Peter 5:8, James 5:16

References and further reading

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