Study Finds Kratom Users Report Relief from Pain and Opioid Withdrawal — with Few Serious Side Effects

Kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia, is gaining traction in the United States as a self-managed alternative for pain relief and opioid withdrawal. A 2017 survey of nearly 2,800 users found that most were middle-aged White Americans who took kratom daily, often in small doses of 1–3 grams. According to the study, published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence on ScienceDirect, 91% of participants used kratom for pain, while 41% did so to cut down on opioids—some reporting over a year of abstinence. Although about one-third experienced mild, short-lived side effects, serious adverse events and signs of addiction were uncommon. Researchers emphasize that more human studies are needed to understand kratom’s safety and therapeutic potential.