Table 2.
Factors reported as motivating kratom use (N = 129).
| N | % | M | (SD) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Just to feel less crappy in general and improve quality of life. | 86 | 66.7 | 74.2 | (±21.9) |
| Self-treat anxiety symptoms. | 69 | 53.5 | 69.4 | (±22.9) |
| Address occasional feelings of sleepiness or low energy. | 65 | 50.4 | 78.0 | (±21.2) |
| Relieve short-term pain (acute pain management) | 64 | 49.6 | 71.9 | (±22.1) |
| For recreation, fun, or to relax. | 63 | 48.8 | 72.4 | (±24.6) |
| Boost energy, stamina and/or endurance (for work, exercise). | 62 | 48.1 | 77.1 | (±21.8) |
| Reduce social anxiety. | 60 | 46.5 | 75.8 | (±17.4) |
| Self-treat depression symptoms. | 54 | 41.8 | 66.6 | (±22.7) |
| Self-treat long-term pain issues and symptoms (chronic pain management) | 46 | 35.7 | 72.1 | (±21.6) |
| Kratom is safer than other substances. | 43 | 33.3 | 90.4 | (±11.2) |
| To achieve a euphoric high. | 39 | 30.2 | 70.9 | (±22.3) |
| As a short-term substitute/replacement for opioids (prescription opioids, heroin). | 32 | 24.8 | 66.7 | (±27.1) |
| Couldn’t get a hold of other, more preferred drugs. | 31 | 24.0 | 75.4 | (±24.4) |
| Self-treat headaches/migraines. | 31 | 24.0 | 65.3 | (±22.9) |
| Relieve withdrawal symptoms from nonprescribed opioids or heroin | 25 | 19.4 | 72.2 | (±25.1) |
| Self-treat chronic fatigue syndrome. | 25 | 19.4 | 72.7 | (±24.4) |
| As a short-term substitute/replacement for alcohol. | 24 | 18.6 | 66.3 | (±21.9) |
| Doctors won’t prescribe you the drugs you need. | 24 | 18.6 | 82.3 | (±19.8) |
| Self-treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms. | 24 | 18.6 | 61.6 | (±24.4) |
| Self-treat post-traumatic stress symptoms. | 23 | 17.8 | 61.9 | (±28.3) |
| As a long-term substitute/replacement for opioids (prescription opioids, heroin). | 21 | 16.3 | 74.6 | (±24.9) |
| Relieve withdrawal symptoms from medically prescribed opioids | 20 | 15.5 | 74.2 | (±22.8) |
| To take as part of a self-designed “stack” of other drugs that help you feel good. | 18 | 14.0 | 69.4 | (±21.6) |
| Because you prefer the kratom “high” to “highs” you get from other drugs. | 16 | 12.4 | 78.0 | (±21.7) |
| To believe withdrawal symptoms from a variety of different drugs. | 14 | 10.9 | 71.9 | (±25.7) |
| As a short-term substitute/replacement for stimulants (meth, cocaine) | 13 | 10.1 | 72.4 | (±28.9) |
| Self-treat irritable bowel syndrome. | 13 | 10.1 | 77.1 | (±18.6) |
| As a long-term substitute/replacement for alcohol. | 10 | 7.8 | 75.8 | (±24.7) |
| Self-treat bipolar symptoms. | 10 | 7.8 | 66.6 | (±26.1) |
| Relieve alcohol withdrawal symptoms | 8 | 6.2 | 72.1 | (±29.7) |
| Relieve withdrawal symptoms for nonprescribed buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex) | 7 | 5.4 | 90.4 | (±15.3) |
| Relieve withdrawal symptoms from nonprescribed or prescribed methadone | 6 | 4.7 | 63.6 | (±6.2) |
| As a long-term substitute/replacement for buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex) | 5 | 3.9 | 70.9 | (±16.0) |
| As a long-term substitute/replacement for stimulants (meth, cocaine) | 4 | 3.1 | 66.7 | (±6.9) |
| Relieve withdrawal symptoms from “nootropics” or cognitive-enhancing supplements. | 4 | 3.1 | 75.4 | (±13.7) |
| Relieve withdrawal symptoms from prescribed buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex) | 4 | 3.1 | 72.2 | (±3.1) |
| As a short-term substitute/replacement for buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex) | 3 | 2.3 | 72.7 | (±14.0) |
| As a short-term substitute/replacement for methadone. | 3 | 2.3 | 66.3 | (±13.1) |
| As a long-term substitute/replacement for methadone. | 3 | 2.3 | 82.3 | (±4.5) |
| Difficulties obtaining buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex) or methadone. | 3 | 2.3 | 61.6 | (±8.5) |
1
Respondents were instructed to select all that applied; all but 1 respondent selected more than one use motivation.