As you probably know kratom is a plant-based substance commonly used to manage pain and opioid withdrawal, according to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. However, the use of kratom – which is legal but carries the risk of addiction and harmful side effects – is more prevalent among people who use other substances, particularly those with opioid use disorder.
Derived from a tree native to Southeast Asia, kratom can be taken as a pill, capsule, extract, or brewed as a tea. It acts on the brain’s opioid receptors; at low doses, kratom is a stimulant, while at higher doses, it can relieve pain. Some people report using kratom as a substitute for opioids in an effort to limit their opioid use and ameliorate withdrawal. Others use kratom recreationally for relaxation or to self-treat pain, anxiety, or depression.
Kratom is legal at the federal level and in most states (almost 90%!), but safety concerns have led to multiple warnings from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Administration identifying it as a “drug of concern.” Long-term or frequent use can lead to dependence, and adverse events, ranging from mild to severe, have been reported. Kratom has been linked to thousands of poisonings and hundreds of deaths in the US, although most involve the use of other drugs, especially opioids.
Kratom use was more prevalent among people who use other substances, including cannabis, stimulants, and cocaine, and was particularly common among those who misuse prescription opioids, with 10.3 percent of people with opioid use disorder reporting kratom use.
Men, white people, and those with depression and serious mental illness were also more likely to report using kratom. Teens and adults over 50 were less likely to report use.
