Effect of regular kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) use on quality of life of people who use kratom

Abstract

Background: Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) is a traditional folk remedy used in Southeast Asia and is known to have a significant opioid-like effect. However, it is unknown whether kratom consumption can impair quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to examine the QoL of people who use kratom by comparing it with that of healthy non-kratom using controls and to determine the association between patterns of kratom use and QoL among people who use kratom. Methods: 200 respondents (100 subjects who use kratom and 100 healthy controls) were recruited for this cross-sectional study. The World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF was administered to all the respondents to assess QoL, while the Kratom Dependence Scale (KDS) was used to assess the severity of kratom dependence among the subjects who use kratom. Results: The physical health, psychological, and environment QoL scores of the subjects who use kratom were significantly lower than those of the healthy controls. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed greater KDS score and longer duration of kratom use were significant predictors of physical health QoL, while only greater KDS score significantly predicted psychological and environment QoL scores. Conclusion: Prolonged kratom use and kratom dependence may negatively impact the QoL of people who use kratom, hence kratom addiction has to be treated adequately.

Keywords:

• Quality of life
• regular kratom use
• kratom dependence
• WHOQoL-BREF

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the staff nurses of the Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic of the Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia for their assistance with data collection for this research project.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Data availability statement

Data used in this manuscript will be made available upon request from the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme [203.CIPPT.6711626] of the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia. The Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia reviewed the study protocol. The funding organization has no role in collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and the decision on submission of the manuscript for publication.