POWDERS, LIQUID, PILLS & TEAS –
May 14, 2026 – It is linked to addiction and mental health issues. This is the first known national study to examine the use patterns of kratom and its association with mental health and addiction. Kratom is a plant from southeast Asia that’s sold online and in some stores in powders, liquid shots, pills and teas.
Opponents of kratom argue that it is addictive and widely available to children, while proponents say it is a safe, natural alternative for managing a host of ailments.
Given the changing policy landscape involving kratom in the U.S., it was an important time to conduct a national study with recent data to examine how many people—including children—use kratom, and its associations with mental health and substance use disorder, said Sean Esteban McCabe, Carol J. Boyd Collegiate Professor in the U-M School of Nursing, and principal investigator. The study is published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine.
