Phytochemical analysis of water and ethanol liquid extracts prepared using freshly harvested leaves of (Korth.).

, also known as kratom, has been reported to have a broad range of pharmacological properties. Freshly harvested leaves and their water extracts are consumed in Southeast Asia while preparations made from dried leaf material are consumed in Western countries. Our study evaluated the phytochemical composition of freshly harvested kratom leaves using LCMS/MS analysis of water and ethanol liquid extracts.

Research and publication gaps on kratom and kratom products: a scoping review of current literature.

Purpose Of Review: Kratom plant, products derived from the plant, and plant phytochemicals are of great interest among researchers, clinicians, and consumers. However, there is a paucity of rigorously collected scientific data on their risk/safety profile and public health impact. This scoping review discusses original research articles published between 2022 and 2023.

Material Security Scale as a Measurement of Poverty among Key Populations At-Risk for HIV/AIDS in Malaysia: An Implication for People Who Use Drugs and Transgender People during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The HIV epidemic is fueled by poverty; yet, methods to measure poverty remain scarce among populations at risk for HIV infection and disease progression to AIDS in Malaysia. Between August and November 2020, using data from a cross-sectional study of people who use drugs, (PWUD), transgender people, sex workers and men who have sex with men, this study examined the reliability and validity of a material security scale as a measurement of poverty. Additionally, we assessed factors associated with material security scores.

Client satisfaction to methadone maintenance treatment program in Myanmar.

Background: To tackle the long-standing opioid misuse problem, Myanmar introduced the methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) program in 2006, starting with 260 clients. Since then, the program has been expanded across different geographical sites in the country. This study was done in 2017 to explore the treatment satisfaction of the clients towards the MMT program.

Factors affecting addiction severity index (ASI) among clients enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) program in Myanmar.

Background: Opioid substitution with methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is shown to reduce illicit opioid use and renew social functioning. Understanding factors that undermine clients' social functioning during MMT treatment is vital for improving treatment compliance and quality of life.

Method: A total of 210 respondents who were already enrolled in a formal MMT program in Myanmar were recruited from five cities through stratified random sampling for this cross-sectional study.

The Use of Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) Among People Who Co-use Heroin and Methamphetamine in Malaysia.

Objectives: Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.), an indigenous medicinal plant, has been widely used as a traditional remedy in Southeast Asia. However, its combined consumption with other substances has received scarce attention.

COVID-19 Impact on Healthcare and Supportive Services for People Who Use Drugs (PWUDs) in Malaysia.

Restrictive orders and temporary programmatic or changes within healthcare and other supportive systems that were implemented in response to the COVID-19 epidemic in Malaysia may have created hindrances to accessing healthcare and/or receiving other supportive services for people who use drugs (PWUDs). A primarily qualitative study has been conducted to evaluate how service providers and recipients were adapting and coping during the initial periods of the COVID-19 response. The study engaged several healthcare and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the peninsular states of Penang, Kelantan, Selangor, and Melaka.

Treatment Barriers Associated with Amphetamine-Type Stimulant (ATS) Use in Malaysia.

People who use amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) are known to face barriers in seeking treatment. We sought to identify these barriers and gender differences in barriers (if any) faced by them. A convenience sample of 386 respondents who use ATS was recruited from five formal drug rehabilitation centers for this cross-sectional study.

Effects of kratom ( Korth.) in reducing risk-behaviors among a small sample of HIV positive opiate users in Malaysia.

Out-of-treatment HIV positive opiate users often engage in risky injecting and sexual behaviors. We sought the self-reported experiences on whether or not kratom ( Korth.) use was associated with a reduction in HIV risk behaviors among them.

Kratom and Pain Tolerance: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study.

: Kratom has a long history of traditional medicine use in Southeast Asia. Consumption of kratom products has also been reported in the US and other regions of the world. Pain relief is among many self-reported kratom effects but have not been evaluated in controlled human subject research.

Global strategy for New Psychoactive Substances: an update.

Purpose Of Review: The aim of this review is to provide an update on recent trends of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) and the current global strategies implemented to manage them.

Recent Findings: The number of NPS has increased from 166 in 2009 to 892 in 2018, with about 36% having stimulant effects. Such trend revels some unprecedented patterns.

Effects of Kratom ( Korth.) Use in Regular Users.

(Korth.) or kratom is an indigenous medicinal plant of Southeast Asia. Kratom is widely reported to have dose-dependent effects based on available literature, but to our knowledge, this has not been established conclusively.

The prevalence of psychotic symptoms in kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) Users in Malaysia.

Background: Kratom is a traditional medicinal herb widely used in Malaysia and Thailand. Despite its widespread use and statements by regulatory agencies on the potential for kratom-associated psychosis, there is little data regarding the prevalence of psychotic symptoms among kratom users. This study investigated the prevalence of psychosis among kratom users, described psychotic symptomatology and severity, while examining associations between kratom use characteristics and the occurrence of psychotic symptoms.

The Use of Benzodiazepines among Kratom ( Korth.) Users.

The leaves from (Korth.) trees, also known as kratom, are traditionally used in Southeast Asia as a mild psychotropic agent. We investigated the demographic characteristics of persons who used both kratom cocktail and benzodiazepines (BZO) in a sample drawn from a rural area in Penang, Malaysia, and the reasons for BZO use.

Motives for using Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) among regular users in Malaysia.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The leaves of Mitragyna speciosa (Korth.) or kratom have been traditionally used in Malaysia and Thailand mainly to enhance work productivity, as a folk remedy for treating common ailments, and as a mood enhancer.

Aim Of The Study: This present study sought to investigate kratom use motives among regular kratom users in Malaysia.

Long-Term Cognitive Effects of Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) Use.

Kratom or Mitragyna speciosa (Korth.) is a medicinal plant of Southeast Asia. As a result of its opioid-like effects, it remains unknown whether consumption of kratom tea is associated with impaired cognitive function.

Severity of Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) Psychological Withdrawal Symptoms.

Kratom leaves (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) are traditionally used in Southeast Asia for their medicinal value. Self-report studies suggest that cessation from chronic kratom tea consumption (freshly brewed kratom tea) was associated with unpleasant psychological symptoms.

Decriminalization of drug use.

Purpose Of Review: To review the literature on decriminalization of drug use from 2016 to 2017 and suggest the way forward.

Recent Findings: The systematic review of the literature on decriminalization resulted in seven articles that discuss decriminalization as compared with 57 published articles on legalization. Decriminalization of drug use did not have an effect on the age of onset of drug use and the prices of drugs did not decrease after the implementation of drug decriminalization.

Atomoxetine for amphetamine-type stimulant dependence during buprenorphine treatment: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Amphetamine type stimulants (ATS) use is highly prevalent and frequently co-occurs with opioid dependence in Malaysia and Asian countries. No medications have established efficacy for treating ATS use disorder. This study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and potential efficacy of atomoxetine for treating ATS use disorder.

Severity of Pain and Sleep Problems during Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) Cessation among Regular Kratom Users.

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) is traditionally used in Southeast Asia for its medicinal value and psychoactive properties. Nonetheless, cessation from regular kratom use is reported to cause unpleasant dose-dependent withdrawal symptoms.