Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) as a Replacement for Alcohol Among a Sample of Malaysian Adults with a History of Alcohol Use Problems

Background: Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is traditionally used for its medicinal value in Southeast Asia. While kratom is used as a substitute for narcotics, its utility remains unstudied among alcohol users. We determined the context and motives of kratom use in a sample who have used kratom to manage their alcohol use problem. Method: Sixteen respondents who claimed to have used kratom to self-treat their alcohol use problem were recruited for this qualitative study. All the in-depth interviews were thematically analyzed. Results: All males, and their mean age was 58.6 years (SD = 6.67). Kratom was ingested as a substitute for alcohol and to self-treat alcohol use problem. Kratom was shown to have the potential to reduce alcohol dependence, since there was a pronounced reduction in the frequency and intake (quantity) of alcohol use. Cessation from alcohol use occurred relatively fast, since respondents took about 1 to 3 months to abstain from it completely. No one has relapsed to alcohol use since initiating kratom. Despite having used kratom regularly, none stated to have developed dependence on it. While alcohol affected social functioning, conversely, kratom did not do so. Conclusions: Our findings highlight that kratom was being consumed as a substitute for alcohol and suggests its potential utility to reduce or cease alcohol consumption. However, further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm this finding.