Kratom, consumed by nearly 20 million Americans daily to boost energy and mood or to facilitate withdrawal, is becoming a highly controversial product due to its high potential for addiction.

noli's read

Consumer surveys, such as those published in *Frontiers in Psychiatry* (observational data), confirm that kratom is primarily sought to stimulate energy, improve mood, and soothe the discomfort of stopping other substances. However, the figure of 20 million daily users is widely overestimated: the U.S. national survey NSDUH (observational study) estimates annual users at approximately 2 million, while industry figures (American Kratom Association) suggest 5 to 15 million regular but not daily users. Regarding dependence, pharmacological data from Johns Hopkins University (expert assessments and observational monitoring) confirm that kratom stimulates well-being receptors similarly to other stimulant plants, creating a risk of habituation. Nevertheless, surveys by Kirsten Smith's team (observational research) indicate that discomfort related to cessation is generally described as mild to moderate. Given this growing popularity, organizations such as the NIH are currently launching initial randomized controlled trials (RCT) to rigorously evaluate the benefit-risk balance of this plant.

the sources

1. 1Eastlack SC, Cornett EM, Kaye AD 2020