Hosted by the Substance Use Disorder SIG
This webinar will inform the attendees about the ethnopharmacological, kratom, that has been used for centuries in southeastern Asia to increase stamina, treat pain, and avoid opioid withdrawal. Traditionally the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa (kratom) are chewed or brewed into a tea for ingestion and there has been little to no reports of serious harm. The interest in kratom has grown considerably in the Western hemisphere and has resulted in the dried leaf material, or extracts (in the form of liquid shots or capsules) that have been used as a self-treatment for mood elevation and opioid use. The recreational use has resulted in many reports of harm and in some cases death. All of this will be covered in detail to bring the science forward and understand what is known about this substance.
Objectives
- Understand what kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is.
- Learn the difference between traditional use and Western use.
- Learn the therapeutic potential of kratom.
- Learn the unique pharmacology associated with kratom.
Moderator
Samantha Odem, PharmD
Assistant Professor
William Carey University School of Pharmacy
Presenter
Christopher R. McCurdy, B.S.Ph., Ph.D., F.A.A.P.S.
Professor of Medicinal Chemistry
The Frank A. Duckworth Eminent Scholar Chair
Director, UF CTSI Translational Drug Development Core
College of Pharmacy and UF Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute
University of Florida