research · 2022-12-01
Nearly 30% of Regular US Kratom Users Meet Criteria for Use Disorder
Source: Academic Research
Why it matters
A NIDA and Johns Hopkins study found that nearly 1 in 3 regular kratom users met DSM-5 criteria for kratom use disorder — data that could significantly shape how regulators and clinicians approach kratom going forward.
The big picture
As kratom use grows in the US, this study provides the first rigorous DSM-5-based assessment of kratom use disorder prevalence. Tolerance and withdrawal — not social dysfunction — are the primary features, raising important clinical and regulatory questions.
Key findings
- • 129 US adult kratom users were surveyed: 52.7% never met KUD criteria; 17.8% were in remission; 29.5% met current (past-year) KUD threshold
- • Severity among current KUD cases: 14.0% mild, 7.0% moderate, 8.5% severe
- • Key KUD symptoms: increased use, tolerance, withdrawal, unsuccessful quit attempts, and cravings
- • Only 9.3% reported social/occupational impairment — suggesting tolerance/withdrawal drive KUD more than psychosocial harms
- • Withdrawal symptoms included GI upset, restlessness, anxiety, irritability, fatigue, and craving
Bottom line
Cross-sectional online survey of 129 US adults with kratom use history; NIDA Intramural Research Program and Johns Hopkins University; published in Journal of Addiction Medicine (2022).