Characteristics of deaths associated with kratom use

Area of Science:

• Forensic Toxicology
• Public Health
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) use has surged globally, accompanied by an increase in reported fatalities.
• The precise role of kratom in these deaths is a subject of ongoing debate and investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the demographics and circumstances of kratom-associated fatalities.
• To provide a comprehensive review of the current understanding of kratom's involvement in deaths.

Main Methods:

• Utilized UK mortality registers and extensive database/media searches to identify fatal kratom cases.
• Extracted and analyzed case characteristics using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.
• Included data from 156 identified fatalities.

Main Results:

• Fatalities predominantly involved males (80%) with a mean age of 32.3 years, a history of drug abuse (95%), and diverse reasons for kratom use.
• Kratom (mitragynine) was solely implicated in 23% of cases; poly-substance use (87%) involving other drugs and alcohol was frequent.
• Causes of death included kratom toxicity (alone or with other substances) and pre-existing health conditions.

Conclusions:

• Findings enhance the understanding of kratom-associated mortality, emphasizing the need for systematic data collection.
• Kratom's safety profile requires further elucidation, particularly regarding toxic and fatal dose quantification.