Tag: Atypical opioid

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an estimated 1.7 million Americans aged 12 and older used kratom in 2021 [1.7.1]. This widespread use raises a critical question for both users and regulators: what drug class is kratom in?

Kratom is structurally and biologically distinct from classical opioids derived from the poppy plant, leading many pharmacologists to classify it as an **atypical opioid**. This unique profile stems from a complex pharmacology that involves both opioid and non-opioid mechanisms of action.