![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Phenomenological descriptions of kratom’s subjective effects have also not been documented in scientific literature, leaving untapped a basic source of information to help guide the design of controlled experimental studies investigating kratom alkaloids.īetween July and November 2022, ten kratom-using adults who agreed to be recontacted for future research while participating in our nationwide ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study on kratom were enrolled into this smaller pilot substudy that, among other activities, included a qualitative component. Indeed, few qualitative data on kratom use exist, and none provide narrative accounts of changes in use over time ( Swogger et al., 2015 Smith et al., 2021 Tobacyk et al., 2022). et al., 2023 Feldman et al., 2023), the nuanced story of kratom use and motivations in the US is still largely uncharacterized. While self-report has provided some insight into use patterns, and case reports have provided details of adverse effects ( Smith K. These have not been well characterized, partially because most human kratom research comprises survey and case reports of people taking various products marketed as “kratom,” that vary with regard to alkaloid content and possible adulterants or contaminants ( Lydecker et al., 2016 Garcia-Romeu et al., 2020 Smith et al., 2022b Grundmann et al., 2023 Weiss and Brent, 2023). Although sharing some characteristics and motivations for use, there are seeming subpopulations of people who use kratom products regularly. The commodification of the botanical Mitragyna speciosa as kratom products in the United States (US), and their increased availability to consumers, has contributed to a rise in use among a diverse population with myriad substance use histories ( Covvey et al., 2020 Rogers et al., 2021 Smith et al., 2022a Grundmann et al., 2022 Smith et al., 2022). They are needed to inform the policy practice regarding kratom and may also help inform future experimental designs. Most participants described tolerance but considered kratom generally safe at low-moderate doses, providing perceived benefits with less potential risk for adverse effects compared to pharmaceuticals or illicit drugs.ĭiscussion: In-depth interview data like these help confirm and clarify findings from larger survey studies and clinician-driven case reports. When kratom was inadvertently taken in larger than intended doses, participants described a constellation of symptoms that they called “the wobbles” (a jittery feeling accompanied by what seemed to be nystagmus) this was rare, but could be of scientific and clinical interest as a possible manifestation of serotonin syndrome. Five of the 10 participants met DSM-5-based criteria for kratom-use disorder (3 mild, 1 moderate, 1 severe, by symptoms counts). Most participants had decreased their dosages over time, and one planned to quit. Results: Despite some differences among participants, all experienced acute combination effects that were largely, even simultaneously, analgesic and stimulatory. This qualitative component of the study was conducted as a narrative case-report series ( n = 10). Method: We conducted semistructured qualitative interviews with adults who regularly use kratom products, as part of a laboratory study of kratom-product self-administration. Until there are controlled studies of the pharmacology and subjective effects of kratom alkaloids in humans, one of the best sources of insight on kratom-product use remains qualitative data with nuanced descriptions of kratom effects from those who use it regularly. However, those reports have generally not examined in depth the role kratom plays in the lives of those who use it regularly for sustained periods. Introduction: Surveys and case reports have documented kratom use in the United States (US) for over a decade. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |