Kirsten E Smith

National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, USA. Electronic address: kirsten.smith@nih.gov.

2 papers in the library · publishing 2026

Papers

Kava (Piper methysticum) consumption patterns and conceptualizations: results from an online survey.

Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy May 5, 2026 Katherine Hill, Cianna Piercey, Hollis C Karoly et al.

Kava, a psychoactive plant from the Pacific Islands, is used for its anxiolytic and sedating effects. In a 2024 online survey of 368 adults who had used kratom, kava, tianeptine, or akuamma seed, 48.9% had used kava in their lifetime. Lifetime kava users were younger, more racially diverse, and more likely to be employed or in school. Kava was purchased online (40.6%) or in tea bars (31.7%). Users reported infrequent consumption (average 4.4 months per year, 9.1 days per month). Perceived effects included reduced general anxiety (33.7%), improved mood (32.9%), reduced social anxiety (25.5%), and sedation (23.4%). Only 11.7% viewed kava as habit-forming, and 51.7% saw it as an alcohol replacement. Kava use practices are diverse, and clinicians should be aware of its role in harm-reduction.

DOI: 10.1186/s13011-026-00728-3 Full text Piper methysticum Alcohol Harm-reduction Kava +1

Characteristics of adverse reactions to kratom and implementation of harm reduction strategies in a sample of ethnobotanical tea bar patrons in Colorado.

Harm reduction journal March 2, 2026 Cianna J Piercey, Joseph Cameron, Riley Ahern et al.

Kratom, a psychoactive botanical, is increasingly used in the United States. A survey of 102 participants (average age 22.34 years, 39.2% women) recruited from ethnobotanical tea bars in Northern Colorado found that 75.5% had experienced at least one adverse reaction. Adverse reactions most commonly occurred when kratom was consumed on an empty stomach, with certain foods, without adequate hydration, or combined with other substances. Participants used strategies like stopping or pacing use, adjusting hydration and food intake, and resting to mitigate reactions, though the effectiveness of these techniques remains unknown. The findings suggest that contextual factors may contribute to adverse reactions, highlighting the need for more research to inform harm reduction and public health messaging.

DOI: 10.1186/s12954-025-01382-x Full text Adverse effects Ethnobotanical tea bars Field survey Harm reduction +3