National Study: Over 5 Million Americans Have Used Kratom, Rates Rising Among Young Adults

Why it matters

This is the first national study to systematically examine kratom use patterns alongside mental health and substance use disorder data, providing policymakers and clinicians with the most comprehensive picture yet of how widespread kratom use has become in the United States.

The big picture

Kratom use has grown steadily in the U.S. despite ongoing regulatory uncertainty. Published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine and using National Survey on Drug Use and Health data from 2021-2024, this University of Michigan and Texas State University study quantifies the scale of use and its associations with addiction and mental health conditions — though it cannot establish causation.

Key findings

• More than 5 million people in the U.S. report lifetime kratom use, including over 100,000 children ages 12-17
• The share of Americans age 12+ reporting lifetime kratom use rose from 1.6% in 2021 to 1.9% in 2024
• Adults ages 21-34 reported the highest use at roughly 3.4% lifetime prevalence and 1% past-year use
• Most people who have used kratom also have a substance use disorder, report cannabis use, and many have serious psychological distress or major depression
• Kratom is significantly underreported in clinical settings because standard drug tests cannot detect it

What they say

"Policy changes regarding kratom and 7-OH products are needed in all states if we are serious about protecting our children," said principal investigator Sean Esteban McCabe, Carol J. Boyd Collegiate Professor at the U-M School of Nursing. "Five million people is more than the entire population of the six smallest states in the U.S. combined."

Bottom line

A landmark national study confirms that kratom use has surpassed 5 million lifetime users in the U.S. and is rising, with young adults and even children among those affected.