Expanded Summary (6th grade reading level):
This study looked at how the COVID-19 pandemic affected people who use kratom. Kratom is a plant from Southeast Asia that some people use to help with pain, addiction, and mental health issues. The researchers asked people who use kratom about their experiences during the pandemic. They also looked at what people were saying about kratom on social media during the pandemic.
The study found that most people who use kratom did not change how much they used it during the pandemic. However, some younger people did have trouble getting their usual kratom products. Some people on social media said they were worried that the pandemic might cause a shortage of kratom. Others said they were trying to quit or use less kratom during the pandemic. Overall, the study shows that kratom remained an important substance for many people, even during the difficult times of the pandemic.
This study was done in the real world, not in a lab. It used both a survey of people who use kratom and an analysis of social media posts about kratom. The study looked at both human experiences and behaviors
Key takeaways:
- Most kratom users did not change their kratom use during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Some younger users had trouble getting their usual kratom products
- Some users were worried about potential kratom shortages due to the pandemic
- Some users tried to quit or use less kratom during the pandemic
- Kratom remained an important substance for many people during the pandemic
For further reading:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08897077.2021.2007517
Full Citation:
Grundmann, O., Veltri, C. A., Morcos, D., Knightes, D., Smith, K. E., & Rogers, J. M. (2022). How essential is Kratom Availability and Use during COVID-19? Use Pattern Analysis based on Survey and Social Media Data. Substance Abuse, 43(1), 865-877.
