Understanding Kratom Use Among Adolescents with Dr. Vinita Sharma, MPH, CPH, CHES

And I would love to.

So Kratom, the scientific name of which is Mitragyna speciosa, is actually a tree that is native to Southeast Asia.

So it has been around for a very long time.

But what we know today in our popular culture as kratom is actually the substance that we derive from its leaves.

Kratom is an opioid-like psychoactive substance.

It's a very interesting substance because people report using it for different types of effects.

So it's not like one substance with one major effect.

For example, it could be used for euphoric effects, meaning for extreme happiness.

People report using it for its euphoric effects, especially in low dosage.

So when you use it in low dosage, it's more likely to give you that kind of effect.

It also can be used as a stimulant.

It could also be used for anorectic effect, which is to suppress your appetite.

Interestingly, it could also be used for antispasmodic effect.

So if you have tummy cramps or stomach pain and things like that, it could help you relieve those pains.

And these are all the effects that people have reported.

And finally, it could also be used for its reported analgesic effects, which is to relieve basic, you know, generalized pain.

Again, multiple different types of effects have been reported

by

people who have used it.

But one thing we do know for sure is that it's a very interesting and emerging substance, especially for U.S. adolescents, although it has been around for a very long time in Southeast Asia.

And it is becoming an increasing reason of concern, especially for pediatricians.

So with all of those effects, can people become addicted to

kratom? That's a very important question.

And the answer is it depends.

So it really depends because if a young person has used it for the very first time in low dosage, the chances of them getting addicted to it is relatively low.