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

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Title: Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) as a Replacement for Alcohol Among a Sample of Malaysian Adults with a History of Alcohol Use Problems.
Authors: Singh, Darshan (AUTHOR), Mathandaver, Devasharmini (AUTHOR), Müller, Christian P. (AUTHOR), Smith, Kirsten E. (AUTHOR)
Source: Substance Use & Misuse. 2026, Vol. 61 Issue 8, p1178-1184. 7p.
Subjects: Malaysians, Self-evaluation, Qualitative research, Labor productivity, Research funding, Interviewing, Judgment sampling, Psychological well-being, Alcohol-induced disorders, Plant extracts, Motivation (Psychology), Sound recordings, Desire, Thematic analysis, Research methodology, Alcohol withdrawal syndrome, Social skills, Phenomenology, Affect (Psychology), Beverages, Middle age
Geographic Terms: Malaysia
Abstract: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Substance Use & Misuse is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) as a Replacement for Alcohol Among a Sample of Malaysian Adults with a History of Alcohol Use Problems.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Singh%2C+Darshan%22">Singh, Darshan</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mathandaver%2C+Devasharmini%22">Mathandaver, Devasharmini</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Müller%2C+Christian+P%2E%22">Müller, Christian P.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Smith%2C+Kirsten+E%2E%22">Smith, Kirsten E.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Substance+Use+%26+Misuse%22">Substance Use & Misuse</searchLink>. 2026, Vol. 61 Issue 8, p1178-1184. 7p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Malaysians%22">Malaysians</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self-evaluation%22">Self-evaluation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Labor+productivity%22">Labor productivity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+funding%22">Research funding</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interviewing%22">Interviewing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Judgment+sampling%22">Judgment sampling</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+well-being%22">Psychological well-being</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Alcohol-induced+disorders%22">Alcohol-induced disorders</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plant+extracts%22">Plant extracts</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Motivation+%28Psychology%29%22">Motivation (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sound+recordings%22">Sound recordings</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Desire%22">Desire</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Alcohol+withdrawal+syndrome%22">Alcohol withdrawal syndrome</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+skills%22">Social skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Phenomenology%22">Phenomenology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Affect+%28Psychology%29%22">Affect (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Beverages%22">Beverages</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Middle+age%22">Middle age</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Malaysia%22">Malaysia</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Substance Use & Misuse is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=193623156
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/10826084.2025.2600634
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 7
        StartPage: 1178
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Malaysians
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self-evaluation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Labor productivity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
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      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Judgment sampling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological well-being
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Alcohol-induced disorders
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      – SubjectFull: Plant extracts
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      – SubjectFull: Motivation (Psychology)
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      – SubjectFull: Sound recordings
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      – SubjectFull: Desire
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      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
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      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
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      – SubjectFull: Alcohol withdrawal syndrome
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      – SubjectFull: Affect (Psychology)
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      – SubjectFull: Beverages
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Middle age
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Malaysia
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) as a Replacement for Alcohol Among a Sample of Malaysian Adults with a History of Alcohol Use Problems.
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            NameFull: Singh, Darshan
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            NameFull: Mathandaver, Devasharmini
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            NameFull: Müller, Christian P.
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            – D: 01
              M: 07
              Text: 2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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