Can kava get you high?

A 2015 guest post by Garry Stoner of T.K. Group Labs.

Does kava get you "high"?

It's an often-asked question, but one that needs some definitions before it can be answered properly. Most people have no qualms about applying the word to substances like marijuana or to the abuse of common substances such as solvents, but they hesitate to use it when describing the effects of legally prescribed drugs that produce broadly similar effects. To me, that carries the implication that if you're taking a substance under the direction of a doctor, what you're feeling isn't "high".

What "high" actually means

Personally, I'd define "high" as an altered perception of reality, characterised by a decrease in your ability to interact with the real world. What does decreased ability to interact look like? Well, if whatever you've swallowed, smoked or injected has caused you to see people around you as mutant green sheep, I'd call that decreased. Same goes for melting landscapes and a sense of perceived invincibility.

But I'd also include in this category things like "feeling that others are watching you, controlling you, or can hear your thoughts", and the catch-all "feeling, seeing, or hearing things that are not there". Since these are documented side effects of popular prescription drugs, you can see why definitions are important. (I'm deliberately not including "able to function but walking around in a fog feeling like a zombie", which is another common side effect of some of these drugs. I consider that a "low".)

There's a fine line between "feeling like you should feel" and feeling "high". Some people say marijuana gives them an increased ability to interact, and I'd agree, up until the point they develop uncontrollable giggles and the irresistible urge to eat anything that crunches. Then I'd call them high. Dedicated runners describe what they get as a "natural high", so perhaps that could also apply to kava, since it's a natural substance. "Buzzed" might be considered a low level of high, but I don't include it in my personal definition, since it could equally apply to any caffeine-containing product. And most people who are looking for "high" aren't interested in "buzzed".

So in my opinion, any definition of "high" has to encompass both individual perception and societal judgement. With all that in mind, we can finally answer the question.

Does kava get you high?

Not really, at least in the sense defined above. Kava can bring a sense of well-being, a feeling of calm, more contemplative thoughts, and sometimes a sense of being more aware of your surroundings. Some people drink it in the evening and feel sleepy afterwards. But it won't make you "high" unless used in extreme amounts, and even then sleep is the most likely outcome.

Kava is also unusual among psychoactive plants. Some people speak of being "krunk" or "rooted", in contrast to "drunk". But virtually all kava drinkers will tell you these feelings depend on a kind of mental cooperation with the kava. Alcohol provides a useful contrast: if you drink enough alcohol, you're simply drunk, and nothing short of time will change that. Kava is markedly different. For best effect it requires what Pacific Islanders call "listening to the kava". This is why nakamals (island kava bars) are traditionally quiet, peaceful places, without loud talk or music. Loud noises and bright lights aren't really compatible with kava and tend to negate its effects.

Reverse tolerance and why veteran drinkers use less, not more

In a similar way, most kava drinkers find they can at least partially override the effects of kava by an act of will. This is one of the reasons new kava drinkers often go through a phase called "reverse tolerance", a period of regular use (usually about a week) before they feel any real effects. They are expecting to be "hit in the head" the way a pharmaceutical works, and kava simply doesn't behave that way. Some have theories about the body needing time to adapt physically, none of which are proven. I personally feel that reverse tolerance is much more mental than physical, and that it happens because the mind needs time to learn how to listen.

This theory is reinforced by another distinctive feature of kava: veteran kava drinkers tend to use less, not more.

I've strayed somewhat from the original title of the article. But if you're still with me, there's a good chance kava might suit you. You're probably not searching for a legal high, and that's fine, because kava can't really provide one. What it can offer is a calm, sociable, contemplative experience in the South Pacific tradition. The best short description of kava I have is this: kava doesn't make you someone you're not, it helps you be who you are.

(Editor's note from The Kava Society: we've lightly edited some of Garry's original 2015 wording for clarity and to bring it in line with current NZ requirements around food product information. The substance and voice of his post are unchanged. We don't make medical claims about kava and we'd encourage anyone with health concerns to talk to their GP rather than treating any beverage as a remedy. If you'd like to try a noble Vanuatu kava in the traditional way, see our current selection.)

Garry Stoner
T.K. Group Labs