Ep 40: Kratom as a Harm Reduction Tool: John Shinholser's Perspective

This episode includes some strong language. If four-letter words aren't your thing, you might want to skip this one. But if you're cool with it, let's dive in. This week on Kratom Stories, Madalyn Sklar interviews John Shinholser, a leading voice in the recovery community who's experienced a powerful transformation through his own journey with Kratom. For decades, John has dedicated his life to aiding individuals recovering from substance abuse, founding the McShin Foundation, a peer-run recovery community center in Richmond, Virginia. However, his perspective shifted when he started noticing the positive impact Kratom had on individuals in his care, helping them manage various challenges without compromising their recovery. John shares his eye-opening story of conducting a "survey" with 30 opioid addicts, providing them controlled access to Kratom for a week to assess its effectiveness in aiding detoxification. This bold experiment showcased the plant's potential as a harm reduction strategy, leaving John convinced of its value. He passionately advocates for greater understanding and acceptance of Kratom within the recovery community, battling against misinformation and harmful stereotypes surrounding the plant. He argues that Kratom has the potential to revolutionize recovery by offering a plant-based alternative to traditional treatment methods. Listen to John's insightful perspective on the future of harm reduction and plant-based recovery in this compelling episode. -RELATED LINKS - McShin Foundation American Kratom Association The Kratom Gals Misty Brown - TikTok Dr. Jack Henningfield at Congressional Briefing on Kratom Science Dr. Nora Volkow at Congressional Briefing on Kratom Science See John's powerful testimony at Tinley Park, IL, board meeting CONNECT WITH John: Facebook 🍃 MADALYN'S RECOMMENDED VENDORS 🍃 Etha Natural Botanicals - 25% off with code: KratomStories New Hope Botanicals - 10% off with code: KratomStories - FOLLOW US ONLINE - KratomStories.com TikTok YouTube Facebook Twitter STAY CONNECTED with us by subscribing to our newsletter! Sign up at KratomStoriesPodcast.com WATCH THE KRATOM GALS LIVESTREAM! Check out our YouTube livestream series called The Kratom Gals, where we review videos about Kratom and then react and share our personal experiences. JOIN KRATOM REAL TALK, our online community for positive, uplifting discussions about the power of whole-leaf Kratom. HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT. If you love our content and community, you can show your support through Buy Me A Coffee, or in this case... Buy Me A Kratom tea! This helps us with the cost of running the podcast, livestream, and forum. Please note: The views and experiences shared in this episode are personal and unique to the guest. Kratom, while featured prominently in these stories, is a botanical substance that is unregulated in the U.S. and various countries around the world. The Kratom Stories Podcast and its host, Madalyn Sklar, do not endorse, promote, or encourage the use of Kratom. We simply aim to shed light on personal experiences and narratives related to this plant. If you're considering using Kratom, we strongly urge you to seek professional medical advice, conduct thorough research, and comply with all local laws and guidelines.