Ethan Hogan, an HVAC technician who worked close to the UT campus, could not help but notice the ads for small blue bottles at local events and shops. Feel Free, a health supplement drink marketed by Botanic Tonics, was promoted in the ads as a safe, scientifically supported substitute for stimulants and caffeine, two addictive chemicals.
Hogan stated, “I start seeing it in every single store that I go to.” Because they resemble large inflatable bottles or window stickers, the marketing for it (attracted) my attention.
Three years ago, the firm and Longhorns Sports Properties, which oversees brand partnerships for Texas Athletics, established a corporate sponsorship agreement. Under the arrangement, Feel Free could be promoted and distributed by Botanic Tonics during Texas Athletics events. But over the weekend, Texas Athletics quietly ended their contract with Botanic Tonics and took the business down from their sponsorship page.
Hogan would later investigate Feel Free’s affiliations with UT and push for the company’s expulsion from the list of sponsors. Lucas Motta, vice president of Longhorn Sports Properties, told the Texan via email that the company would cut all connections with Botanic Tonics by the end of June.
The sponsorship agreement was canceled in the midst of widespread criticism and a class action lawsuit alleging that Botanic Tonics misrepresented the drink’s addictive qualities in order to improperly sell it. Last year, the business paid about $9 million to resolve the complaint.
The plaintiff’s claims focused on kratom, one of the primary constituents in Feel Free and a substance made from Southeast Asian leaves. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration claims that kratom attaches to parts of the brain similarly to opioids like codeine. Hogan claimed that he was worried about Feel Free’s addictive qualities and contacted Longhorn Sports Properties.
“I had a strong emotional attachment to this,” Hogan remarked. People won’t put up with it either once they realize it for what it is, which is why I sent all the emails.
In a press release, Botanic Tonics stated that it informed consumers of the drink’s possible negative consequences, pointing out that the bottles have a warning that, if taken carelessly, the product can result in substance abuse and that the firm does not allow users under the age of 21.
“We are dedicated to comprehending not only the impacts of our products but also the fundamental mechanisms,” stated Ramsey Atallah, Botanic Tonics’ chief science and R&D officer. Our objective is to develop products that are supported by sound science and are also entertaining.
The Guardian reports that at the 2023 Longhorn Run, Botanic Tonics distributed bottles of Feel Free. Graduate research assistant Claire Zagorski of the College of Pharmacy said she and a few of her coworkers were made aware of the drug.
After getting the shot, people were leaving Longhorn Run believing they were experiencing a fantastic runner’s high, according to Zagorski. Then they became aware that this was going on for a longer period of time.
Kratom can help individuals wean off of medicines like fentanyl or other prescribed opioids, according to Zagorski. However, she is more worried about the drug’s manufacturer’s openness than the drug itself.
Zagorski stated, “I don’t think there are bad drugs.” Drugs are sometimes used inappropriately. All we need to do is be truthful about the labels we apply.
