Jessica A Nicewonder1, Amy F Buros2, Charles A Veltri1, Oliver Grundmann1,3. 1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona, United States. 2. Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona, United States. 3. Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Gainesville, Florida, United States.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Kratom preparations have raised concerns of public health and safety in the United States. This paper analyzed the patterns and predictors of kratom use by four U.S. regions according to the U.S. Census. METHOD: An anonymous cross-sectional online survey yielded 8,049 valid responses. The data were categorised by regions (Northeast, South, Midwest, and West) and analyzed for the following predictors: age, gender, marital status, ethnicity, employment status, insurance coverage, education, and household income. RESULTS: After adjusting for state population, the survey response rates were highest from Oregon, Idaho, and Florida. Kratom use was significantly lower for both prescription drug dependency and acute or chronic pain in the Northeast region than the rest of the country. Multiple logistic regression models found that gender, employment, and education were significant on the regional level. Higher education was associated with lower kratom use for an illicit drug dependency (p = .002) independent of region whereas men were less likely to use kratom for acute or chronic pain in the Northeast (p < .001) but more likely in the Midwest (p = .041). CONCLUSIONS: The regional pattern of kratom use differed from opioid use data in both demographics and trend direction warranting further investigation.
OBJECTIVE:Kratom preparations have raised concerns of public health and safety in the United States. This paper analyzed the patterns and predictors of kratom use by four U.S. regions according to the U.S. Census. METHOD: An anonymous cross-sectional online survey yielded 8,049 valid responses. The data were categorised by regions (Northeast, South, Midwest, and West) and analyzed for the following predictors: age, gender, marital status, ethnicity, employment status, insurance coverage, education, and household income. RESULTS: After adjusting for state population, the survey response rates were highest from Oregon, Idaho, and Florida. Kratom use was significantly lower for both prescription drug dependency and acute or chronic pain in the Northeast region than the rest of the country. Multiple logistic regression models found that gender, employment, and education were significant on the regional level. Higher education was associated with lower kratom use for an illicit drug dependency (p = .002) independent of region whereas men were less likely to use kratom for acute or chronic pain in the Northeast (p < .001) but more likely in the Midwest (p = .041). CONCLUSIONS: The regional pattern of kratom use differed from opioid use data in both demographics and trend direction warranting further investigation.
Authors: Catherine W Striley; Carolin C Hoeflich; Andrew T Viegas; Lindsey A Berkowitz; Emily G Matthews; Leyla P Akin; Chidinma Iheanyi-Okeahialam; Urmeen Mansoor; Christopher R McCurdy Journal: Subst Abuse Date: 2022-05-20