TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2022//
TI  - Kratom use as more than a "self-treatment"
JO  - American journal of drug and alcohol abuse encompassing all addictive disorders
A1  - Smith, Kirsten E.
A1  - Dunn, Kelly E.
A1  - Rogers, Jeffrey M.
A1  - Grundmann, Oliver
A1  - McCurdy, Christopher R.
A1  - Garcia-Romeu, Albert
A1  - Schriefer, Destiny
A1  - Swogger, Marc T.
A1  - Epstein, David H.
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - BACKGROUND: Mitragyna speciosa (kratom) is increasingly used in the United States for its pharmacological effects. Kratom's relative novelty makes for a dynamic situation, such that use motivations are not firmly established and may be changing. Investigators and clinicians require frequent updates on kratom trends. <br><br>OBJECTIVES: To assess the current state of kratom-use initiation, sourcing, motivations, preference, conceptualizations, and perceived stigma, using survey responses from current and former users. <br><br>METHODS: Between April-May 2021 we recontacted 289 respondents who reported lifetime kratom use (on an unrelated survey) to answer kratom-specific questions. <br><br>RESULTS: The sample (N=129) was majority female (51.9%) and white (71.9%). Most (69.0%) reported first trying kratom after 2015. Mean age of use initiation (29.9 years) was older than for other substances, including opioids. Kratom ranked as a preferred substance by 48.5%. The strongest drug association with past-year kratom use was vaped nicotine (OR=3.31,95% CI 1.23-8.88). Use was less likely among those prescribed buprenorphine in the past year (OR=0.03, CI 0.01-0.28). Past-month cannabis use (OR=4.18,CI 1.80-9.72) had the strongest association with past-month kratom use. Over 40 use motivations were endorsed, many (but not all) supporting the "self-treatment" narrative of kratom use, including use as an opioid, alcohol, or stimulant substitute. Treatment shortfalls were associated with decisions to try kratom. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Kratom use motivations are diversifying, with multiple factors driving use. As sales continue to increase, the public-health, clinical, and policy responses to kratom should be grounded in rigorous bench-to-bedside scientific research. Comprehensive study of kratom is currently lacking.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0095-2990
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2022.2083967
ID  - ref1
ER  -