r/lakeland

Hi folks! I’ve been struggling with an addiction to these for quite some time. If you don’t know, they’re essentially a powerful kratom extract that produces opioid- and stimulant-like effects.

I was introduced to them first through an advertisement of their kratom/kava shots in a gas station that presented as a mood boost. I started drinking one in the morning before every shift at work. It helped me wake up, gave me a nice boost of energy, along with clarity, a bit of euphoria, and just an overall pick-me-up sensation when I’d otherwise be groggy or slow to start my day.

Fast forward to the clerk recommending the tablets in the photo as an alternative when they were out of the drinks one day. Said they were stronger, and boy, he wasn’t kidding. As someone with addictive tendencies, this is a recipe for disaster. From one drink a day, to one tablet a day, to one 4-pack a day, all the way now to a 10-pack a day of these little fuckers.

I’ve tried a few times to kick the habit but these induce powerful, opiod-like withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking them. Muscle aches, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, runny nose, nausea, chills, sweating, all of the fucking above.

So I’ve been scouring the web and reddit for info on how to be rid of these little demons. I’ve researched countless methods, from cold turkey, to suboxone, SR17, etc etc.

Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I plan on utilizing my Employee Assistance Program through my place of work, but if anyone can point me in the direction of a local (Tampa/Lakeland/Orlando) resource or facility, it’d mean the world to me! If you took the time to read this, I appreciate you. I hope this can be useful to anyone also struggling with kicking this shitty habit. Have a great day, y’all! ☺️

I’m sharing this here because many of us in Orlando and Central Florida frequent Polk County, or even adopt from there. While most FL counties (Orange, Lake, Hillsborough) are moving toward No-Kill status, Polk County is moving backward and are using taxpayer money to do it.

Loking into the 2024–2025 data, and the lack of transparency is quite shocking. I wanted to share the statistics the Polk County Sheriff's Office and the Board of Commissioners aren't putting in their press releases:

1. The "Business" of Euthanasia:

In 2024, the shelter euthanized over 3,500 cats. Shockingly, they sold 1,083 of those bodies to a biomedical research company for $10 each. When there is a financial incentive for "cadaver sales," there is no incentive for life-saving reform.

2. The Funding Gap ($6 Million in Unused Funds!)

The Sheriff’s Office claims they don’t have the resources for foster programs or low-cost spay/neuter. Yet, in late 2025, Sheriff Grady Judd returned nearly $6 MILLION in unspent funds back to the county. Meanwhile, the shelter still lacks basic air conditioning for the animals (probably why they don't allow cell phones in the shelter)

3. "Lost" Animals:

In 2024 alone, over 400 animals died in their kennels overnight, and over 500 were reported as "escaped." These numbers are curious, being that the facility is run by the Sheriff’s Office

4. The War on Transparency (this is the one that really made me pay attention)

Polk is one of the only shelters in the state that BANS cell phones and cameras inside the kennels. You cannot walk through without an armed escort. They have also canceled the internal volunteer and foster programs. They are actively preventing the public from documenting the conditions inside.

5. Rejected Expertise:

Polk leadership reportedly rejected over $500,000 in grant money and staffing from Best Friends Animal Society—expert help specifically meant to implement proven, no-kill strategies.

What can we do?

After a massive turnout at the commissioner meeting this past week, they’ve already started limiting public comments to just 15 people to try and quiet things down. I wanted to share this because even if you can’t make it to a meeting in person, we need to get the word out before the next one on May 19th. There's an active push happening NOW for a 5-point plan to finally bring some transparency to the shelter.

However, since I cannot link petitions here, the most powerful thing you can do is email the Polk County Board of Commissioners and Sheriff Grady Judd directly. Under Florida law, your emails to these official addresses are public records and must be kept on file.

You can direct your emails to the Board of County Commissioners and Sheriff Grady Judd:

District 1: Becky Troutman: BeckyTroutman@polkfl.gov

District 2: Rick Wilson: RickWilson@polkfl.gov

District 3 (Vice Chair): Bill Braswell: BillBraswell@polkfl.gov

District 4 (Chair): Martha Santiago: MarthaSantiago@polkfl.gov

District 5: Michael Scott: MichaelScott@polkfl.gov

Sheriff Grady Judd: gjudd@polksheriff.org or sheriff@polksheriff.org

Please consider sharing this post or spreading the word to your friends and family. A facility like this only stays in the dark when people stop looking. By sharing, you are helping us keep the spotlight on the animals who need us to be their voice.

Every share, every conversation, and every new person who learns about this brings us one step closer to real change. Thank you for caring and for helping us make sure these pets are no longer forgotten. ❤️

I found this kitten trapped under my house last night, I fed her some pate canned cat food and she has water but we cannot let her loose in our house and she needs to be rehomed asap. She has a large bloated stomach and has had diarrhea twice today so im assuming she has worms, she also has fleas. Is there anyone who would be willing to take her or any places I can take her? Shes currently in a small crate for one of our other animals so we would not be able to supply a crate.

Does anyone know where to find this ice cream in lakeland? Without going to orlando

This is a stretch… but if you live in Polk County there is a high chance you live on former phosphate mine land. This means you may be suffering from harmful radioactive materials.

Do you live near 3095 County Road 640? In Mulberry or Bartow?

PLEASE let me know !!!

I’m working on a story about this. There are news articles everywhere if you look up phosphate mine sites.