SUD Research
Prevalence, Severity,
and Symptom Endorsement.
Scroll down
Introduction Of
Report
Addiction is a term often used broadly, but addiction to a substance exists on a spectrum and is subjective to each indivasdsaidual. This report provides a detailed analysis of relative prevalence and impact of Substance Use Disorders (SUD) across various substances, including heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, opioids, cannabis, alcohol, tobacco, kratom, caffeine, and ultra-processed food.
By evaluating the nature of substance abuse in the context of a landscape of substances, using various Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Version 5 (DSM5) studies, we can better understand how different substances impact individuals and society. This analysis also compares the SUD profiles of various substances to provide a clearer picture of their relative impact.
Data Source
The data comes from several reputable sources:
- Heroin, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Opioids, Cannabis, Alcohol, and Tobacco: National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Kratom: Study by Smith et al. on kratom use disorder and withdrawal.
- Caffeine: A study by Sweeney et al. on symptoms of caffeine use disorder.
- Ultra-processed Food: Study by Wiedemann et al. on food addiction severity
Prevalence of Substance Use Disorders (SUD) Across Different Substances
The prevalence of data shows the percentage of individuals without SUD and with SUD for each substance. This summarizes how widespread SUD is among users of these substances.
Understanding the prevalence of Substance Use Disorders (SUD) among different substances is crucial for identifying the SUD risk profile of a specific substance. Heroin has the highest prevalence, with 86% of users developing SUD, reflecting its potent addictive properties.
Methamphetamine and opioids also show high prevalence rates, with 68% and 69% of users experiencing addiction, respectively, highlighting the need for effective treatment strategies. Cannabis and tobacco have significant prevalence rates of 59% and 57%, respectively, showing that over half of their users develop some level of addiction. Alcohol, while lower at 22%, still affects over one in five users across a large user base, emphasizing the public health impact of its widespread use.
Kratom, with a prevalence of 30%, presents a moderate risk of SUD, which is notably lower than the rates for heroin and opioids of kratom is often compared against. This suggests that while kratom does have some potential for addiction, it has substantially less potential risk for substance use disorder compared to other substances.
This analysis highlights that kratom offers a relatively lower risk of addiction compared to many substances, presenting it as a potentially safer option for consumers who seek its benefit whilst still needing mindful use and monitoring.
Severity of Substance Use Disorders (SUD) Across Substances
The severity of SUD is categorized as mild, moderate, and severe based on the number of symptoms individuals endorse, helping to understand the intensity of the disorders.
The severity of Substance Use Disorders (SUD) varies significantly across different substances, highlighting their diverse impacts on users. Heroin shows the highest severity, with 61% of users experiencing severe SUD, followed closely by methamphetamine and cocaine, with 49% and 47% of users experiencing severe addiction, respectively. In contrast, kratom presents a more favorable severity profile, with only 29% of users experiencing severe SUD.
The majority of kratom users fall into the mild category (47%), indicating that while kratom use can lead to SUD, it is often less intense than addiction associated with hard drugs and even ultra processed food, and is more akin to caffeine in its severity profile.
Substances like cannabis and alcohol primarily cause mild SUD, with 63%, 55%, and 59% of users, respectively, experiencing mild cases. Kratom shows a similar, or even better profile, with a high proportion of mild cases and fewer severe cases. Compared to tobacco, which has a balanced distribution of severity levels, kratom users experience fewer severe cases and more mild ones. Ultra-processed food and caffeine, while having notable severe and moderate cases, also indicate that kratom generally presents a lower risk.
Overall, some people using kratom will develop severe SUD. However, the percentage of people with severe SUD is similar to that of caffeine, alcohol, and cannabis and less than more dangerous substances such as heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and tobacco.
Symptom Endorsement in Substance
Use Disorders (SUD) Body
Symptom endorsement data highlight the specific DSM-5 symptoms endorsed by individuals for each substance. These symptoms are grouped into categories, such as impaired control, social impairment, risky use, and physical dependence.
Symptom endorsement categories are crucial in understanding the full impact of Substance Use Disorders (SUD) because they reveal how different substances affect users across various aspects of their lives. These categories— impaired control, social impairment, risky use, and physical dependence—provide a comprehensive view of the addiction’s multifaceted nature.
Impaired control, for instance, involves using larger amounts or for longer durations than intended, repeated unsuccessful attempts to quit, and significant time spent on substance use. Social impairment highlights the negative consequences on personal relationships and responsibilities, while risky use emphasizes the dangers of consuming substances in hazardous situations.
Physical dependence, characterized by tolerance and withdrawal symptoms, underscores the physiological impacts of a use disorder. By categorizing symptoms, researchers and healthcare providers can better understand and address the specific challenges associated with each substance.
While kratom can lead to SUD, the symptoms that are typically endorsed are skewed toward physical symptoms related to impaired control and physical dependence. Risky use and social impairment symptoms that are expressed for substances that have a high negative social impact like heroin, cocaine and alcohol are not highly expressed in individuals with a kratom use disorder.
Understanding kratom’s symptoms aids in public health education and consumer education, providing clear information on the relative risks of kratom use compared to more dangerous substances and enabling informed decision-making for individuals and policymakers alike.
The Conclusion
By examining the prevalence, severity, and symptom endorsement of SUD across various substances, we gain a deeper understanding of the complex nature of addiction. Kratom, in particular, stands out as a substance with a comparatively lower risk profile. Its prevalence and severity of SUD are notably less than those associated with highly addictive substances like heroin and opioids upon which is it often compared.
This suggests that while kratom use can lead to SUD, it often results in mild to moderate SUD that is skewed towards physical dependence rather than deleterious social impact. The analysis reinforces the need for personalized and targeted understanding of the nature of each substance a person consumes in order for them to make an informed choice as to their relative risk appetite.
The high prevalence of SUD among substances like heroin, methamphetamine, and opioids underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address these disorders. Meanwhile, kratom’s lower prevalence and milder symptom profile suggest that it could play a role in harm reduction strategies and can be a tool that is used to be more productive in life.
Ultimately, leveraging the insights from this data, particularly regarding kratom, can help develop more balanced and informed public health policies and consumer choices, contributing to a healthier and more informed society.
Sources
1. Hasin DS, et al (2012). Analyses related to the development of DSM-5 criteria for substance use related disorders: Proposed DSM-5 criteria for alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and heroin disorders in 663 substance abuse patients. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 122(1-2), 28-37. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.09.005.
2. Leung, C.W., et al (2023). Food Insecurity and Food Addiction in a Large, National Sample of Lower-Income Adults. Current Developments in Nutrition, 7(12), 102036. doi:10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.102036.
3. Nutrasource. Independent review of FAERS database from 2019 to 2022.
4. Praxedes, D.R.S., et al (2022). Prevalence of food addiction determined by the Yale Food Addiction Scale and associated factors: A systematic review with meta-analysis. European Eating Disorders Review, 30(2), 85-95.
5. Nutrasource. (2012). Analyses related to the development of DSM-5 criteria for substance use related disorders: Proposed DSM-5 criteria for alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and heroin disorders in 663 substance abuse patients. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 122(1-2), 28-37. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.09.005.
6. Leung, C.W., et al (2023). Food Insecurity and Food Addiction in a Large, National Sample of Lower-Income Adults. Current Developments in Nutrition, 7(12), 102036. doi:10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.102036.
7. Praxedes, D.R.S., et al (2022). Prevalence of food addiction determined by the Yale Food Addiction Scale and associated factors: A systematic review with meta-analysis. European Eating Disorders Review, 30(2), 85-95.
8. Hasin DS, et al (2023). Food Insecurity and Food Addiction in a Large, National Sample of Lower-Income Adults. Current Developments in Nutrition, 7(12), 102036. doi:10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.102036.
Duis aute irure
voluptate velit
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.
File type:
Stay tuned for more Science
The Global Kratom Coalition is dedicated to being your premier resource for kratom science and research. Here are some of the key areas we have already explored and some we may investigate:
Consumer Advocacy
We work to protect access to safe and responsibly sourced kratom worldwide, ensuring fair policies and consumer rights.
Legislative Efforts
From local initiatives to national policy, we advocate for fair laws that protect kratom consumers and responsible vendors.
Public Education
Providing accurate, science-based resources to inform consumers, lawmakers, and health professionals about kratom’s benefits and risks.
Industry Transparency
Holding kratom brands accountable by promoting ethical business practices and ensuring quality control in the marketplace.
Industry Transparency
Holding kratom brands accountable by promoting ethical business practices and ensuring quality control in the marketplace.