Kratom use rare, but more common among people with opioid use disorder

Less than one percent of people in the United States use kratom, a plant-based substance commonly used to manage pain and opioid withdrawal, according to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. However, the use of kratom—which is legal but carries the risk of addiction and harmful side effects—is more prevalent among people who use other drugs, particularly those with opioid use disorder.