Polydrug use among kratom users: Findings from the 2011 Thailand National Household Survey

ABSTRACT

Despite the availability of numerous anecdotal reports of polydrug use in kratom users, few studies have been carried out in Thailand. This study aimed to explore the problem of polydrug use among Thai kratom users. A national household survey on the prevalence of substance use was conducted in 2011 using a multistage random sampling technique. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The frequency of other substance use was compared between respondents with and without a history of kratom use. Of the total sample (18,457), 544 (2.9%) acknowledged kratom use. Eighty-nine (46.1%) used it almost every day. The mean age of users (SD) was 42.7 (12.8) years old, 459 (84.4%) were male, and 264 (48.5%) had used other illicit drugs in the past. Kratom users were significantly more likely to use heroin, ecstasy, and ice with adjusted odds ratios of 39.7, 30.5, and 29.1, respectively. Of 195 who acknowledged kratom use in the past 12 months, 22 (11.3%) concurrently used other illicit drugs, including cannabis, amphetamine-type stimulants (ATSs), and inhalants. Polydrug use is common in Thai kratom users who are more likely to use opiates and ATSs in their lifetime. Another drug concurrently used was cannabis. Health personnel need to be aware of polydrug use in this population.

KEYWORDS:

• Prevalence
• kratom
• polydrug use

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

The 2011 National Household Survey on Substance Use was financially supported by the Office of Narcotic Control Board (ONCB). The authors would like to thank the ONCB and the Administrative Committee on Substance Abuse Research Network (ACSAN) for their support in providing the data. We would like to thank all staff of ACSAN’s research team involved with data collection and data entry.

Additional information

Funding

The Office of Narcotic Control Board funded the survey. No funding support was received for the actual study.

Notes on contributors

Surinporn Likhitsathian

SL, WJ, AA, and MS were responsible for the conception and design of the study. AA, SA, MK, UP, and RJ were responsible for the site coordination of the study. WJ, AA, and KT managed the literature searches and summary of previously related work. All authors were responsible for acquisition of data. SL, CA, and MS were responsible for the initial analysis of the data, interpretation of the data, and drafting the manuscript. All authors contributed to and approved the final manuscript.