Is Kratom An Alternative To Opioids? What Does Research Suggest?

Experts Continue to Examine Kratom’s Complex Pharmacology and Limited Research Data

Kratom has emerged as a plant that divides opinions worldwide. Some see it as a potential aid for discomfort or dependence relief, while others say that it behaves like an opioid and may carry risks of addiction or contamination. Originating from Southeast Asia, this herbal extract has found a new audience in the West, especially among people seeking alternatives to prescription opioids or other pain-management options. As researchers continue to examine its pharmacology and safety, one question remains central: Is Kratom truly an opioid—or something different altogether?

Kratom has been a part of conversations for a long time, but one question that still confuses people is ‘Is Kratom an opioid?’ Actually, Kratom or Mitragyna speciosa has leaves that contain alkaloids, which interact with the same brain receptors targeted by opioids, yet chemically it is not classified as one. This overlap has led researchers to study Kratom’s potential as an opioid.

In this article, we will explore the science behind this, what distinguishes it from opioids, and what current research suggests! 

Kratom is a tropical evergreen tree native to countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, where its leaves have been traditionally chewed or brewed into Kratom tea for centuries. Locals often used it to manage discomfort during long hours: a far cry from the global debate now surrounding it. 

The plant’s key active compounds, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, interact with the body’s μ-opioid receptors. These are the same receptors targeted by opioids. However, Kratom’s alkaloids act only as partial agonists. This means they trigger the receptors more weakly than substances like morphine or oxycodone. This difference is why researchers often describe Kratom as an opioid like but not an opioid.  

While Kratom is today sold in the market as powder, capsules, extracts, shots, and gummies, its effects can vary based on the strain, amount, and the method of preparation. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO, 2016), Kratom remains under scientific review due to its complex pharmacology and growing use as an herbal alternative in the West.  

While its traditional role was benign and culturally integrated, its modern usage raises new questions about safety, dependence, and its relationship to opioids. 

The unique effects of Kratom come from how the alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine interact with the brain’s μ-opioid receptor. These are the same as opioid receptors as activated by opioids, but kratom behaves differently. Instead of fully activating them it acts as a partial agonist.  

This means the stimulation they produce is weaker and capped at a certain level, which might explain why Kratom doesn’t cause the same degree of respiratory depression seen with stronger opioids.  

Studies conducted by research groups at Columbia University have also suggested that these alkaloids may favor a G-protein coupled signaling pathway, potentially reducing the intensity of side effects caused by traditional opioids. 

Beyond opioid receptors, the alkaloids in Kratom also influence adrenergic and seretonergic systems, which contributes to its complex pharmacological profile. These interactions explain why Kratom does not fit neatly into the opioid category despite sharing some overlapping mechanisms.  

Therefore, after all this discussion, it is clear that the answer to ‘Is Kratom an opioid?’ is no, it's not, but the effects can sometimes seem similar. According to a 2025 review published in Drug and Alcohol Review by Economidis et al., Kratom demonstrates both opioid-like and non-opioid properties. It influences additional systems such as adrenergic and serotonergic pathways.  

This complex interaction is why researchers refer to Kratom as pharmacologically unique with opioid-like mechanisms, but not a true opioid in structure or classification. This difference matters because opioids are synthetic or derived from the poppy plant, but Kratom is plant-based and has multiple benefits. Here is a comparison table to understand the differences between Kratom vs opioids: 

Also Read: Is Kratom Legal? 

The quality of Kratom can vary based on the strain, amount and preparation method. Since no two batches are identical, you must understand the product sourcing and safety. Make sure to buy from credible vendors that give details about leaf sourcing, alkaloid content and a Certificate of Analysis to ensure you are not getting a subpar product. 

All the data about Kratom as an alternative to opioids comes from user reports and small-scale studies, and not clinical trials. Researchers, including Economidis et al. (2025) and the California Department of Public Health (2024), emphasize that while Kratom could serve as a potential harm-reduction aid, it might also pose risks of dependence, withdrawal, and contamination in unregulated products. 

However, one of the research papers on ScienceDirect by Marion A. Coe a, Janine L. Pillitteri b, Mark A. Sembower b, Karen K. Gerlach b, Jack E. Henningfield a c states that: 

“Two preclinical intravenous drug self-administration studies reported that mitragynine was more similar to saline than heroin or morphine in reinforcing efficacy; furthermore, mitragynine administration reduced subsequent self-administration of these opioids.  

In the Yue et al. study (Yue et al., 2018), the self-administration of mitragynine and heroin was compared in rats that were trained to self-administer methamphetamine.  

Both methamphetamine and heroin sustained robust lever-pressing and self-administration rates as compared to saline. In contrast, mitragynine self-administration was similar to saline—indicating low reinforcing effects and limited abuse potential.” (Kratom as a substitute for opioids: Result from an online survey)

However, until more research and regulation evolve, Kratom remains a plant of interest, not yet a proven or approved alternative to opioids.

Kratom has its unique space between traditional herbs and synthetic opioids. Its alkaloids react with the same receptors as opioids, yet the chemical structure and effects are distinct, which places it in its own category.  

Until standardized research and clear federal regulation exist, kratom should be viewed as a botanical of scientific interest, not a proven medical substitute for opioids. Those exploring it should do so cautiously, prioritizing transparency in sourcing and avoiding combination with other substances. 

Disclaimer: All the information in this blog is taken from scientific literature and presented here with an intention to educate and not advertise the use of Kratom. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains that Kratom has not been approved for any medical use. You must do your own research before using it.