ADHD self-medication review identifies only three kratom sources

Why it matters

Reports of using kratom for focus or ADHD symptoms do not establish that it works. A scoping review found only three kratom-related sources in a much larger literature on adult self-medication.

The big picture

The review mapped how researchers describe substance use intended to relieve adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms. It included 109 sources across substances, with searches through July 21, 2026. This was a review of how claims are framed, rather than a clinical trial or an assessment of treatment effectiveness.

Key findings

• The reviewers identified three kratom-related sources among 109 included sources across psychoactive substances.
• All three kratom sources were classified as self-medication-framed, with reported motives including focus, energy and relief of psychiatric symptoms.
• One kratom source was a cardiotoxicity case report involving high daily doses; its classification recorded the patient's motive, not a beneficial outcome.
• Across the literature, self-medication was usually inferred from associations or reported motives rather than tested against changes in ADHD symptoms.
• The search required self-medication or motive terminology, and the reviewers did not critically appraise study quality or rank evidence strength.

What they say

Authors Marios Adamou and Christos Petrou say the kratom literature is too small to characterize beyond its recorded framing. They caution that their search cannot decide between self-medication and competing explanations for substance use.

Bottom line

Three sources describing self-medication motives do not establish kratom as an effective ADHD treatment.