A small double-blind study has demonstrated that kratom—a southeast Asian herb traditionally chewed as a stimulant to combat fatigue—has analgesic properties in regular users. Twenty-six men in their early to mid-20s who had used kratom regularly for several years received kratom or placebo in a randomized, blinded order after a 10- to 20-hour discontinuation period. Pain tolerance was measured in an ice bath, with time from pain onset to withdrawal as the primary endpoint.

The rate of drug test positivity in the workforce hit a 16-year high in 2019, according to data from the annual Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index™ report. Data for the report are drawn from nearly 9 million urine drug tests performed during the year by Quest, the world’s leading provider of diagnostic information services. Overall, 4.5% of samples tested indicated use of an illicit drug.

Kratom is an herb derived from the leaves of the kratom tree (Mitragyna speciosa) indigenous to Southeast Asia. The leaves have traditionally been chewed as a stimulant to combat fatigue. In the United States in recent years, it has been sold as an “herbal supplement” with claims that it boosts mood and energy, and relieves pain.

Kratom may be the most common recreational drug you’ve never heard of. Whether you pronounce it “CRAT-em” or “CRATE-em,” kratom has emerged recently as a drug of concern in the United States. Legal in some states, illegal in others, this drug may have the potential to be an effective medication in the future, but is also being widely used recreationally without any…