Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42404212›Full record

ArticleSubstance use : research and treatment

An Initial Survey Assessing the Temporal Relationship of Kratom Initiation With Medical Treatment and Substance Use.

Jordan R Covvey, Oliver Grundmann, Nina Vadiei, Kirk E Evoy

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Substance use : research and treatment. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Jordan R CovveySchool of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Oliver GrundmannCollege of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Nina VadieiCollege of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Kirk E EvoyCollege of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0913-7145

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Intro: Kratom use is growing for both therapeutic and non-therapeutic effects. This survey assessed the temporal relationship between kratom initiation and prior, subsequent, or concurrent substance use or medical treatment. Methods: This cross-sectional, anonymous electronic survey was disseminated to American Kratom Association and Global Kratom Coalition members from 3/2025-9/2025. Adults aged ≥18 years who reported past or current kratom use were eligible. A novel questionnaire was generated assessing: kratom and other substance use characteristics; pursuit of medical treatment for selected diagnoses; and temporal relationships between kratom use and substance use or medical treatment. Results: Of 161 respondents included, most (95.7%) currently versus previously used kratom. Whole-leaf product use was reported most often (90.3%), with 38.3% reporting concentrated kratom extracts and 16.9% single alkaloid isolates. Reasons for kratom use were therapeutic (50.3%), non-therapeutic (16.1%), or both (33.5%). Therapeutic (self-treatment) use was most commonly cited for pain (86.2%), mental focus (52.3%), mental health (46.9%), sleep (43.1%), and substance use disorder (27.7%). Most respondents had used ≥1 other psychoactive substance in their lifetime, including cannabis (74.3%), alcohol (68.2%), stimulants (43.2%), sedatives (33.1%), non-prescribed opioids (26.4%), or tobacco (6.1%); 10.1% reported no prior substance use besides kratom. Whether used for non-therapeutic or therapeutic purposes, kratom was rarely initiated first. Among those with a substance use history, only 3-10% reported trying kratom prior to other substances reported. Among those with pertinent medical conditions, 0-20% initiated kratom before receiving medical care for their reported conditions. Conclusion: This study builds on previous research assessing kratom use motivations, providing insight into the temporal relationship between kratom initiation and substance use or medical treatment. Kratom was rarely the first substance or therapeutic treatment tried, but rather most individuals initiated it concurrently with or after discontinuing other substances or medical care. Larger follow-up studies are warranted to confirm these results.

Indexed as

kratomkratom use disorderMitragyna speciosasubstance use disordertemporal use

Identifiers

PMID42404212
PMCPMC13328998

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.