If you have had problems control your substance use in the past kratom is probably best avoided. The dependency with it is relatively minor compared to other opioids, but it is still really shitty and, other than the fact it is legal, can totally rule ones like any other habit forming substance.
My question is, are you looking for a recreational kinda high or something for more special occassions? I’d look into entheogens if you’re okay with only using once in a while. But there aren’t many safe and legal substances that can be used recreationally on a daily basis without many issues other than cannabis.
I think the more important question is what substances the OP has had issues with in the past? Or addictive/compulsive type behaviors? Like, what is it that you are working on in terms of improving your health? If you’re struggled with a type of substance in the past it’s best to avoid similar substance for recreational use (e.g. if you’ve had issues with alcohol avoid gabaergic stuff like phenibut; if you’ve struggled with opioids, avoid kratom or other opioids like substances).
I’d strongly recommend putting your efforts into learning new healthy skills. Learn how to practice mindfulness based meditation, learn xigong/tai chi or a martial art, learn how to make pottery or paint, learn how to compose music or play an instrument, etc. in other words, drugs are fun but if you put your efforts into seriously learning how to use drugs at the cost of other healthier pursuits it is unlikely to end well.
And you will always be able to trip balls once in a while if you put your time into healthier activities. I’d strongly suggest broadening your horizons outside drug use and then just taking a trip to Central America to enjoy some ayahuasca or take a trip to the Netherlands and enjoy some legal shrooms. Save the drug experiences for something really special.
Do you have medical/mental health concerns that lead you to want to explore recreational drug use as self medication? That is totally legitimate in my book, it’s just something you need to go about very carefully, especially if you’ve struggled with drug related issues in the past.
I fell into the regular kratom use thing, which isn’t so bad but it’s still a PITA (primarily just because it is getting expensive). But it’s easy to keep from using other drugs. The only stuff I feel like I can really use safely is limited to occasional benzo use (but I’m not willing to put myself at risk buying them on the black market, so I don’t really use them often), occasional cannabis (I enjoy small doses at the end of the day sometimes before bed) and especially stuff like mescaline and ketamine.
Perhaps you can look into a ketamine treatment OP? Especially if you’ve struggled with depression or other mental health issues and just need to scratch the drug itch, you might really benefit from it.
Mescaline is my favorite though. Felonious cactophagy 4 life