Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41772584›Full record

ArticleHarm reduction journal2026

Characteristics of adverse reactions to kratom and implementation of harm reduction strategies in a sample of ethnobotanical tea bar patrons in Colorado.

Cianna J Piercey, Joseph Cameron, Riley Ahern, Isabella Packwood, Carter Bruning, Devin Henry, Jesse Ruehrmund, Katelyn Weldon, Kirsten E Smith, Hollis C Karoly

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Harm reduction journal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Cianna J PierceyDepartment of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA. Cianna.Piercey@colostate.edu.
Joseph CameronCenter for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University School of Public Health, RI, 02903, Providence, USA.
Riley AhernSchool of Social Work, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
Isabella PackwoodDepartment of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA.
Carter BruningSchool of Social Work, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
Devin HenryDepartment of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA.
Jesse RuehrmundDepartment of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA.
Katelyn WeldonDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
Kirsten E SmithDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
Hollis C KarolyDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.

Funding

Exploring the Effects of Cannabinoids on Alcohol Consumption and the Microbiota-Gut-Brain AxisK23AA028238 · NIAAA · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · PI KAROLY, HOLLIS C · 2021 to 2025
$1.1M
Real-world momentary assessment of kratom use and laboratory-based observed cessation accompanied by product assays: Toward an interdisciplinary characterization of kratom use and pharmacologyR00DA055571 · NIDA · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI SMITH, KIRSTEN · 2024 to 2025
$498k
NIAAA NIH HHS K23 AA028238NIDA NIH HHS R00 DA055571
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundKratom is a psychoactive botanical that is increasingly popular in the United States. While potential risks of kratom use have been identified, research on harm reduction strategies and contextual factors contributing to adverse reactions is limited. Given that kratom is federally unregulated at present, and a variety of kratom products are widely available on the commercial market, more data are needed to inform harm reduction efforts and public health messaging.

methods102 participants (mean age = 22.34 years, 39.2% women) were recruited from ethnobotanical tea bars in Northern Colorado to complete a survey on kratom use, which included questions pertaining to adverse experiences.

resultsMost participants (75.5%) reported experiencing an adverse reaction to kratom at least once in the past, with a wide range of kratom doses reportedly consumed during these experiences. Adverse reactions were most commonly reported to occur in the context of consuming kratom on an empty stomach, consuming alongside certain foods, lack of hydration, and combining kratom with other substances. Participants employed a variety of strategies in attempt to mitigate adverse reactions, such as stopping or pacing their use of kratom and other substances, modulating hydration and food intake, and engaging in rest and recovery behaviors.

conclusionsAdverse reactions to kratom may be associated with certain contextual factors. Several techniques are reportedly used to mitigate adverse reactions, but the efficacy of these techniques is unknown. More data are needed to understand the causes and consequences of adverse reactions to kratom, and to better understand potential harm reduction strategies for reducing adverse experiences. More research could also shed light on the extent to which kratom serving size and various product formulations (e.g. whole leaf vs. extracts) are predictive of adverse effects.

Indexed as

Harm ReductionMitragynaTeaAdolescentAdultColoradoEthnobotanyFemaleHumansMaleYoung AdultTeaAdverse effectsEthnobotanical tea barsField surveyHarm ReductionKratomMitragyna speciosaMixed methods

Identifiers

PMID41772584
PMCPMC13059294

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.