Pilot Survey: Cancer Patients Use Kratom Differently Than Other Users, Primarily for Pain and Mental Health Related to Diagnosis

Why it matters

Cancer patients face severe, often undertreated pain and mental health burdens. This first peer-reviewed study to compare kratom use patterns specifically among cancer patients versus non-cancer users reveals a distinct pattern of use tied directly to cancer diagnosis — raising both clinical and regulatory questions about whether blanket kratom bans account for this population's access to adjunctive self-treatment options.

The big picture

Kratom policy has largely been driven by data on general populations and high-dose extract users. Cancer patients represent a medically distinct group: they often face severe chronic pain, treatment-related anxiety and depression, and limited satisfaction with conventional pain management. Palliative care providers increasingly encounter patients who have adopted kratom independently, yet almost no clinical literature exists on this population's specific use patterns or outcomes. This pilot study from the University of Florida and the Journal of Palliative Medicine begins to fill that gap.

Key findings

• 136 U.S. respondents self-selected for an anonymous online survey comparing kratom use among those with a cancer diagnosis versus those without.
• Cancer patients showed distinct kratom use patterns compared to non-cancer respondents, using it specifically in relation to their diagnosis for pain and mental health management.
• Non-cancer users relied on kratom for longer periods to manage other pre-existing health conditions rather than a specific acute diagnosis.
• Respondents with cancer reported kratom use for both analgesic and anxiolytic or mood-related effects tied to their cancer experience.
• Authors — including kratom researcher Oliver Grundmann of the University of Florida — note the findings are exploratory and call for larger controlled studies to generalize results.
• PMID: 42655877, published in the Journal of Palliative Medicine, Epub August 26, 2026.

What they say

"Kratom is used by cancer patients for diverse reasons," the authors concluded. "Further research is needed to generalize findings from this pilot survey."

Bottom line

The first peer-reviewed survey of cancer patients' kratom use finds this population engages with kratom specifically in response to their diagnosis — a pattern that differs from general users and warrants consideration in any regulatory framework affecting pain management options.