Kratom, a herbal supplement derived from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree native to Southeast Asia, has seen a notable rise in popularity. Used for its stimulating and pain-relieving properties, kratom is often marketed as a natural alternative to traditional medicines. With its growing usage, there’s an increasing concern about its impact on drug tests.
Many users wonder whether consuming kratom can trigger a positive result on standard drug screenings, posing potential risks for employment and legal issues.
Kratom, scientifically known as Mitragyna speciosa, is a tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia, particularly in countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The leaves of the kratom tree have been traditionally used for their medicinal properties for centuries.
People use kratom for various reasons, including pain relief, anxiety reduction, and as a stimulant. It is also used to help with opioid withdrawal symptoms.
Kratom can be consumed in several forms, such as powder, capsules, extracts, and even brewed as a tea.
The active compounds in kratom, mitragynine, and 7-hydroxymitragynine, interact with opioid receptors in the brain, producing effects similar to opioids. However, kratom is not currently regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and its legal status varies by country and state.
Drug tests detect the presence of drugs or their metabolites in the body. They analyze biological samples to identify specific substances. Urine tests are the most common.
They are non-invasive and can detect a wide range of drugs like marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, and benzodiazepines. Blood tests, though more invasive, offer a more precise measure of the actual drug or metabolite levels in the system, often used to confirm results of other tests. Hair tests are the most reliable for long-term drug use.
They can detect drug use over a period of up to 90 days or even longer, as drugs are incorporated into the hair as it grows. Common drugs screened in hair tests include marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, and ecstasy. Saliva tests are less common but useful for detecting very recent drug use, typically within the last 24 to 48 hours.
They screen for substances like marijuana, cocaine, opiates, and amphetamines. Tests vary in sensitivity and detection windows, so the choice of test depends on the context and purpose.
Kratom, scientifically known as Mitragyna speciosa, contains active compounds called alkaloids, primarily mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. These alkaloids interact with opioid receptors in the brain, but they are structurally different from traditional opiates.
Standard drug tests, such as the 5-panel or 10-panel tests, are not designed to detect kratom alkaloids. These tests typically screen for substances like cannabinoids, opiates, cocaine, amphetamines, and phencyclidine (PCP).
Therefore, kratom is unlikely to show up on these routine screenings.
However, specialized drug tests using advanced techniques like mass spectrometry or chromatography can detect kratom alkaloids. These tests are more expensive and are usually employed by organizations that require a broader range of substance detection, such as probation officers, athletic organizations, or the military.
It’s important to note that kratom can sometimes yield false positives for opioids in immunoassay tests due to cross-reactivity. This means that while kratom itself might not be detected, its presence could potentially trigger a positive result for opioids in some cases.
In summary, kratom is not typically detected in standard drug tests, but specialized tests can identify its primary alkaloids.
If you are subject to drug testing and have used kratom, it’s advisable to inform the testing authorities and consult with a healthcare professional for guidance.
Clinical Implications of Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) Use: a Literature Review. Published in Current Addiction Reports, this review provides an up-to-date analysis of preclinical and clinical scientific literature on kratom. It highlights the therapeutic potential of kratom and its underlying mechanisms.
Kratom Abuse Potential 2021: An Updated Eight Factor Analysis.
This article, published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, evaluates kratom’s abuse potential using the Controlled Substances Act’s eight factors. It discusses the public health risks and regulatory considerations for kratom.
Pharmacologic and Clinical Assessment of Kratom: An Update. Published in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, this article presents updated information on kratom’s pharmacologic properties, including its opioid and stimulant effects.
FDA and Kratom.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has concluded that kratom is a new dietary ingredient with inadequate information to ensure it does not present significant health risks.
Kratom Use Within the Context of the Evolving Opioid Crisis and the …. This article discusses kratom’s pharmacologic properties and its role in the opioid crisis.
Drug Tests Show Kratom Use Doubled in U.S. According to a study by Millennium Health, kratom use in the U.S. has doubled in the last two years. Nearly 1 out of 4 people who tested positive for kratom were also abusing opioids, benzodiazepines, or other substances.
Natural Herb Kratom May Have Therapeutic Effects And Relatively Low ….
A user survey found that fewer than 3% of responses met the criteria for moderate or severe substance use disorder for kratom, but about 13% met some criteria for kratom-related substance use disorder.
Case Study: Kratom and False Positives in Drug Tests – A study published in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy reported that kratom does not appear in standard drug screens. However, there have been instances where kratom consumption led to false positives for opioids in drug tests. This is because kratom contains alkaloids that can interact with opioid receptors.
Case Study: Kratom and Polypharmacy – The FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System documented cases where kratom was used alongside other substances.
In one instance, a user who consumed kratom along with other drugs experienced severe toxicity, leading to hospitalization. The toxicology report showed high levels of mitragynine, the active alkaloid in kratom, but did not detect kratom itself in the standard drug screen.
Case Study: Kratom and Adulteration – A report from Springer highlighted a case where a kratom product was adulterated with phenylethylamine, an amphetamine-like stimulant. The user experienced severe adverse effects, and the toxicology report showed the presence of the adulterant but not kratom itself.
Case Study: Kratom and Chronic Use – A study in JAMA Network Open examined the effects of chronic kratom use.
Participants reported using kratom daily for pain management and opioid withdrawal symptoms. Despite regular use, standard drug tests did not detect kratom, but some users experienced withdrawal symptoms when they stopped using it.
Case Study: Kratom and Regional Use – Research published in Frontiers in Pharmacology found that kratom use is more prevalent in certain regions and demographic groups in the US. Users reported using kratom to self-treat various conditions, but standard drug tests did not detect kratom.
The study highlighted the need for more research on kratom’s effects and potential interactions with other substances.
These examples illustrate the complexities of kratom use and its impact on drug test results. While kratom itself may not be detected in standard drug screens, its interactions with other substances and potential adulteration can lead to unexpected outcomes.
Kratom, a herbal supplement derived from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree, is not typically detected in standard drug tests due to its unique chemical structure and lack of regulation by the FDA.
However, specialized tests using advanced techniques like mass spectrometry or chromatography can detect kratom alkaloids. Additionally, kratom may yield false positives for opioids in immunoassay tests due to cross-reactivity.
The evidence suggests that kratom itself is unlikely to make you fail a drug test, but its interactions with other substances and potential adulteration can lead to unexpected outcomes.
It’s essential to inform testing authorities and consult with a healthcare professional if you have used kratom and are subject to drug testing.