2-paragraph summary (6th grade reading level):
Kratom is a plant that some people use to help with pain, addiction, and other health problems. The government wants to know if kratom should be put on a special list of drugs that are controlled and illegal. This paper looks at the latest research on how kratom affects the brain and body.
The researchers found that kratom is not as addictive or dangerous as some other drugs. Most people use kratom to help themselves, not to get high. The researchers say that banning kratom could actually cause more problems, like people going back to using dangerous drugs like opioids. The researchers think the government should focus on making sure kratom is safe and pure, rather than trying to ban it.
This study was done by reviewing many different studies on kratom, including studies done in labs
on animals and studies done in the real world with people who use kratom
Key takeaways:
- Kratom is not as addictive or dangerous as some other drugs
- Most people use kratom to help themselves, not to get high
- Banning kratom could cause more problems, like people going back to using dangerous drugs
- The government should focus on making sure kratom is safe and pure, rather than trying to ban it
For further reading:
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.775073/full
Full Citation:
Henningfeld, J. E., Wang, D. W., & Huestis, M. A. (2022). Kratom Abuse Potential 2021: An Updated Eight Factor Analysis. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12, 775073 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.775073/full
