Ok, first of all kratom isn't an opiate so it's not like "any other opiate". And I am in contact with hundreds of people who are taking it and not a single one has experienced major withdrawal symptoms. Instead they are using it to withdraw off not only heroin and pain pills but methadone and suboxone. I see testimonials from people who use it to get clean about every day. If you want to change my mind on this show me, don't tell me to Google it. Even on Google the only negative info on withdrawal comes from commercial companies that make money off of drug dependence and are full of misinformation.
Kratom is not an opiate, but it is an opioid substance. Just like oxy, hydro or any opiate it binds to the mu receptors. What happens when those receptors are constantly stimulated? Tolerance. What happens upon cessation of that substance? Withdrawal. Kratom, in the brain, acts just like any other mu receptor binding chemical.
Also addiction doesn't come from prolonged use of any drug or from huge doses. Actual numbers show addiction in about 4% of the population but it's exaggerated quite a bit on a regular basis. If you have a propensity towards addiction it can happen from a single or a low dose and if you don't have it taking a lot won't make it happen.
I don't know where you're getting those numbers, but I know a ton of drug addicts. You know how I know they're addicts? They will steal and rob to sustain their habits. What happens when they abruptly stop taking their DOC? They have withdrawals. You know how they became addicts? By finding the substance they enjoy and using it for prolonged periods of time while increasing the dosage. If that's not addiction, I don't know what is.