Kratom: Substance of Abuse or Therapeutic Plant?

Kratom is the common term for Mitragyna speciosa and its products. Its major active compounds are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. An estimated 2.1 million US residents used kratom in 2020, as a “legal high” and self-medication for pain, opioid withdrawal, and other conditions. Up to 20% of US kratom users report symptoms consistent with kratom use disorder. Kratom use is associated with medical toxicity and death. Causality is difficult to prove as almost all cases involve other psycho active substances. Daily, high-dose use may result in kratom use disorder and opioid-like withdrawal on cessation of use. These are best treated with buprenorphine.
Source: The Psychiatric Clinics of North America - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Source Type: research