Attitudes towards Kratom use, decriminalization and the development of a community-based Kratom control mechanism in Southern Thailand

Abstract

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) is an indigenous plant of Southeast Asia, which has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Despite local communities in Southern Thailand viewing Kratom as a traditional remedy and not as an illicit drug, Thailand criminalized Kratom in 1943 which has led to tensions between government authorities and local communities. This study employed a mixed-method design to explore alternative ways to decriminalize Kratom, using a Participatory Action Research framework to develop a community charter to better manage Kratom in Tambon Namphu, a rural sub-district in Southern Thailand. Quantitative data consisted of face-to-face surveys with 457 Tambon Namphu residents, 104 students and teachers and on-line self-complete surveys conducted with 1,058 people outside Tambon Namphu. Qualitative data were collected using focus groups, in-depth interviews and through public forums conducted with Tambon Namphu residents. Survey results indicate that most participants agreed with decriminalization of both Kratom cultivation and consumption and typically reported positive attitudes towards people who use Kratom. The most common reasons for supporting Kratom decriminalization were Kratom's perceived benefits for work productivity and health. People had more positive attitudes towards the consumption of fresh Kratom leaves than Kratom decoctions which were deemed more harmful. Participatory action research methods were used to pilot the development of a community consensus framework for Kratom control in Donsai, a village of 127 households. Following successful piloting, the community consensus framework on Kratom control was adopted in Donsai, adapted across Tambon Namphu and then extended to cover 135 villages across Thailand.