research · 2025-10-25
Behavioral Economic Demand Measures Predict Kratom Use Disorder
Source: Academic Research
Why it matters
Johns Hopkins researchers have applied addiction science's most powerful behavioral economics tools to kratom — finding that purchase task measures of demand intensity and elasticity can predict kratom use disorder, enabling better screening.
The big picture
Applying proven behavioral economic methods to kratom research bridges a critical gap in addiction science. These tools can help identify people at highest risk for kratom use disorder before clinical problems emerge, informing both prevention and treatment strategies.
Key findings
- • First study to use hypothetical purchase tasks to quantify the reinforcing efficacy of kratom in 117 US adults with lifetime kratom use
- • Higher demand intensity (how much kratom consumed when free) was significantly associated with past-year KUD (OR = 2.16)
- • Lower demand elasticity (less price-sensitive consumption) was also associated with past-year KUD (OR = 0.45)
- • "Likelihood" version of the task was less predictive — suggesting task design matters for kratom use disorder assessment
- • KUD symptoms in this sample mirrored prior studies: tolerance, withdrawal, using more than intended, and craving
Bottom line
Online survey study of 117 lifetime kratom users; Johns Hopkins University, NIDA IRP, and Massachusetts General Hospital; published in Addictive Behaviors Reports (October 2025).