Prevalence and characteristics of self-reported kratom use in a representative US general population sample

Abstract

Background

Reports of kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) use, a medicinal plant widely found in Southeast Asia, are on the rise in the US. However, the prevalence and characteristics of individuals who use kratom in the US is unknown.

Objective

To estimate lifetime prevalence of, and descriptive characteristics associated with, kratom use in a sample of the US general population.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was administered online by Qualtrics® research panel aggregator. Utilizing quota-based sampling, data was collected from a US sample aged 18–59 years, representative to age, geographic region, ethnicity, income, and education level. Data was collected regarding respondent demographic/clinical characteristics, as well as frequency/patterns of kratom and other drug use.

Results

Among 1,842 respondents, 112 (6.1%) reported use of kratom within their lifetime. Respondents who used kratom were largely between 25–44 years old, male, employed, and at higher educational levels. A total of 24.1% to 47.3% of respondents indicated self-reported diagnoses for addiction, and 42.9% reported having previously received treatment for addiction. A total of 71.4% to 92% of respondents who used kratom also reported use of other drugs, including nicotine, cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamine, and heroin.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this analysis provides the first estimate of kratom use in the general US population, providing insight on demographic/clinical characteristics of individuals reporting use.

Keywords:

• Kratom
• mitragyna speciosa
• opioid
• substance use
• substance misuse

Disclosure statement

No potential or actual conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Author contributions

All authors contributed to study design, data interpretation, and manuscript revision. JRC was primarily responsible for statistical analysis. SMV wrote the first draft of the manuscript and all authors have contributed to and approved the final manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by an American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) New Investigator Award (NIA) grant. The funder did not participate in the study design, data collection, analysis or interpretation, manuscript development, or decision on whether to submit the article for publication.