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

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.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Kratom is a psychoactive botanical that is increasingly popular in the United States. While potential risks of kratom use have been identified, research on harm reduction strategies and contextual factors contributing to adverse reactions is limited. Given that kratom is federally unregulated at present, and a variety of kratom products are widely available on the commercial market, more data are needed to inform harm reduction efforts and public health messaging. 102 participants (mean age = 22.34 years, 39.2% women) were recruited from ethnobotanical tea bars in Northern Colorado to complete a survey on kratom use, which included questions pertaining to adverse experiences. Most participants (75.5%) reported experiencing an adverse reaction to kratom at least once in the past, with a wide range of kratom doses reportedly consumed during these experiences. Adverse reactions were most commonly reported to occur in the context of consuming kratom on an empty stomach, consuming alongside certain foods, lack of hydration, and combining kratom with other substances. Participants employed a variety of strategies in attempt to mitigate adverse reactions, such as stopping or pacing their use of kratom and other substances, modulating hydration and food intake, and engaging in rest and recovery behaviors. Adverse reactions to kratom may be associated with certain contextual factors. Several techniques are reportedly used to mitigate adverse reactions, but the efficacy of these techniques is unknown. More data are needed to understand the causes and consequences of adverse reactions to kratom, and to better understand potential harm reduction strategies for reducing adverse experiences. More research could also shed light on the extent to which kratom serving size and various product formulations (e.g. whole leaf vs. extracts) are predictive of adverse effects.