Nearly Half of Kratom Users Report Chronic Pain, Study Finds Significant Relief

Why it matters

A substantial proportion of kratom consumers are chronic pain patients who report meaningful relief, raising urgent questions for clinicians and policymakers about whether restricting access could leave vulnerable patients without pain control alternatives.

The big picture

Kratom is increasingly used by chronic pain patients who face barriers to conventional care. Using ecological momentary assessment — a real-time daily diary method — this NIH-funded study provides the first granular evidence of how kratom fits into daily pain management routines. The findings challenge assumptions that kratom use is primarily recreational.

Key findings

• 49.1% of the 395 participants met criteria for chronic pain
• 69.2% reported difficulties obtaining adequate pain treatment, influencing their decision to use kratom
• Pain relief was the most frequently endorsed primary motivation for daily kratom use
• Recent kratom use was associated with lower current pain levels on the same day
• Participants with chronic pain showed a significantly stronger link between kratom's subjective effects and pain reduction

What they say

The authors concluded: "This study reveals that chronic pain is common among kratom consumers, who frequently use it for pain self-management and report significant relief, as shown by ecological momentary assessment. There is an urgent need for research into kratom's safety, efficacy, and mechanisms to guide clinical practice and inform policies."

Bottom line

Nearly half of U.S. kratom users have chronic pain and rely on it for relief — making rigorous clinical trials of kratom's safety and efficacy an urgent public health priority.