Motives for using Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) among regular users in Malaysia

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe leaves of Mitragyna speciosa (Korth.) or kratom have been traditionally used in Malaysia and Thailand mainly to enhance work productivity, as a folk remedy for treating common ailments, and as a mood enhancer. Aim of the studyThis present study sought to investigate kratom use motives among regular kratom users in Malaysia. Materials and methodsA total of 116 regular kratom users were recruited for this cross-sectional survey. The Drinking Motives Questionnaire (DMQ) was administered to measure kratom use motives. ResultsOur results indicate that heavy (>3 glasses daily, each glass contains 48.24–50.4 mg of mitragynine) kratom use was associated with coping (t87.09 =3.544, p < 0.001), and enhancement (t114 =2.180, p = 003). Single subjects had higher mean scores on the coping domain, relative to married subject (t113.89 =3.029, p < 0.003), while those earning more than RM1500 per month had higher mean scores on the enhancement domain, compare to those earning less than RM1500 per month (t107 =2.151, p < 0.034). Higher scores on the coping domain was significantly associated with higher (>3 glasses daily) kratom consumption (p < 0.0045). ConclusionsCoping was associated with high (>3 glasses daily) kratom consumption among regular kratom users in traditional, rural settings.