UBC-Okanagan research indicates psychoactive plant may reduce need for opioids

A new study by researchers at UBC-Okanagan and the University of Rochester Medical Center suggests a psychoactive plant may be an alternative to opioids for pain medication.

Kratom belongs to the coffee family of plants and has been used medicinally for centuries in South-East Asia according to a media release from the university.

The researchers reviewed 57 years of international scientific data to arrive at their conclusions, including kratom may also ease withdrawal symptoms for people weaning themselves off opioids.

“Over the past decade we have seen increasing interest in kratom as an effective way of easing pain and curbing opioid use,” says UBCO associate psychology professor Zach Walsh.

“We are concerned that this potential might be overlooked amongst the hysteria and misinformation that often accompanies the emergence of an unfamiliar plant-based drug that does have some potential for misuse.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We are concerned that this potential might be overlooked amongst the hysteria and misinformation that often accompanies the emergence of an unfamiliar plant-based drug that does have some potential for misuse."

The study’s lead author, an associate professor in URMC’s psychology department, says clinicians and the public are receiving confusing information about kratom.

“This study clarifies that there is no good scientific basis for claims that kratom causes psychosis, suicide, or violence and the available data do not indicate that kratom is a significant public health problem,” says Marc Swogger.

The study was recently published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.