“Is Kratom addictive?

Is coffee addictive? Are you addicted to chocolate?

Asking questions like this is a bit misguided. In none of these examples we ask whether plants themselves are addictive. Instead, we question the potential for abuse of active alkaloids in each plant.

Alkaloids: one of a class of nitrogenous organic compounds derived from plants that have been pronounced physiological actions in humans.

In simple English, alkaloids are any chemicals in plants that cause real effects when consumed by humans. Caffeine, for example, is an active alkaloid in coffee beans that is responsible for the stimulating effect of coffee. Nicotine is an alkaloid in tobacco, and theobromine & caffeine are alkaloids in chocolate (chocolate).

There are about 20 active alkaloids in the Kratom plant. The two dominant alkaloids responsible for plant effects are Mitragynine (MG) and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-HMG). Of all the alkaloids in Kratom, MG is the most common, making up about 60% of all alkaloid profiles. In contrast, 7-HMG only makes up 2% of the alkaloid profile. Therefore, it is believed that MG is the alkaloid responsible for most of the effects reported by Kratom users; such as relieving anxiety, relieving pain and regulating moods.

"The main effect of kratom is most likely produced by MG with the possible contribution of 7-OH-MG.

(from Pinney Associates's 8-factor analysis of potential kratom abuse)

With this in mind, we should reframe a little the original question: Is Mitragynine addictive?

According to a study conducted by the Society for the Study of Addiction published in June '18 in the Journal of Addiction Biology (a peer-reviewed academic journal), "These findings indicate that MG has no potential for abuse and reduces morphine intake, a desirable characteristic of pharmacotherapy candidates for opiate addiction and withdrawal ... "So, in other words, MG does not match the potential abuse profile assigned to addictive substances, such as heroin and Oxycontin. More about that here. In fact, in the study, they gave mice with Morphine for several days in a row, and then turned it into MG for several days. After their time with MG, Morphine was again available to them, and they showed a reduced likelihood of returning to using Morphine. This is what is referred to in the quote above when they show that it "reduces morphine intake". Which, as the authors say, makes it a very promising potential therapy for opiate & withdrawal addiction.

In addition, when looking at potential drug abuse, the main factor considered is the effect that the substance has on the daily lives of users. For example, the majority of cocaine or heroin users report a drastic negative impact on their ability to engage with work, friends, and life in general. The use of kratom does not fit this description at all. In fact, according to Pinney Associates 8-factor analysis, "Consumption usually does not interfere with work or social activities and commitments, and in fact kratom is widely reported in the US, as in Southeast Asia, to contribute to work productivity, quality of life, and social relations. "So, unlike abuse drugs, kratom seems to improve the quality of life for many users, as opposed to reducing it. It is interesting to read this description as presented by scientific research.”