People’s Reasons for Using Kratom Are Rapidly Diversifying

Since kratom began growing in popularity in North America, researchers have tried to understand how and why people are using it. Much research focuses on people using the plant to ease the symptoms of opioid withdrawal, since the Southeast Asian plant works on similar neurotransmitter receptors to opioids. One 2020 study, for instance, found that 41 percent of nearly 3,000 respondents used kratom for this purpose.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), which funds something like 80 percent of the world’s drug research, has sometimes been criticized for its overwhelming focus on “drug abuse and addiction” at the expense of pleasure and benefits. However, new research out of the US federal institute suggests that people’s reasons for using kratom have changed and expanded.

Read the full story at Filter