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Habit-Forming Isn’t the Same as Addictive, and Here’s the Data to Prove It

Playing to Win

October 14, 2025

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Welcome to the Latest Newsletter
of Playing to Win!

My newsletter is designed specifically to help business owners like you grow your companies with tried & applied bits of business knowledge, all communicated in actionable, bite-sized chunks. I will share insights and advice aimed at enhancing your business operations, boosting your success, and allowing you to focus more on what truly matters. Let's work together to achieve your goals and make your endeavors a reality.

Key Points of the Newsletter

  • Kratom is not addictive according to university-backed research.
  • It is habit-forming—like caffeine—but falls low on the spectrum.
  • We need honest, science-backed conversations in this space.

Habit-Forming Isn’t the Same as Addictive, and Here’s the Data to Prove It

 
Let’s have the conversation most people in this space avoid.

There’s been a flood of research from multiple universities, and the findings are crystal clear: Kratom is not addictive.

Now let me be even more direct, there’s a very specific, clinical definition of what “addictive” means. And Kratom doesn’t meet that threshold. It’s not a guess. It’s not a marketing spin. It’s science. Peer-reviewed, university-backed science.

But here’s what that same research also says: Kratom is habit-forming.

And that’s where people start to freak out. You say “habit-forming” and suddenly it’s, “Oh my gosh! Don’t touch it!” But let’s stop and think for a second.

You know what else is habit-forming? Caffeine.

Let’s put it in perspective. Imagine a continuum from water on one side (zero habit formation), to the strongest opioids in the world on the other (maximum addiction). Somewhere dead-center sits caffeine. It’s something most people consume daily: coffee, tea, energy drinks. You’ve probably had some already today.

And guess where Kratom falls on that scale?

Just barely to the right of caffeine.

If caffeine is a 50 on a 0–100 scale, Kratom is around 51 or 52. The strongest habit-forming or addictive substances are pushing 100. That’s the scale. That’s the context.

This isn’t fear-mongering or blind defense. It’s factual. It’s backed by real research. And it matters because the words we use shape the way people think, and the decisions they make.

So let’s stop lumping Kratom into conversations it doesn’t belong in. Let’s stop pretending that “habit-forming” and “addictive” are interchangeable. They’re not.

And let’s start demanding clarity, data, and transparency from everyone in this space, especially those with the loudest microphones.

We’re building companies, guiding consumers, and shaping industries. That means we owe it to ourselves, and the people we serve, to lead with truth, not fear.

Here’s the data. Now let’s change the dialogue.

Stay tuned for more insights in our next newsletter. Remember, it's the small adjustments that often make the biggest impact on your business's profitability. Here's to your continued success!

Stay driven to push your business forward,
Ryan Niddel