- Siobhan Gormley
- Summer 2026
Faculty instructor: Kelsey Pascoe, Sharna Clark, Annette Jenkins
Abstract
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), a tropical tree indigenous to Southeast Asia, has experienced a significant rise in use across the United States as a self-administered treatment for opioid withdrawal and chronic pain. However, many U.S. health professionals remain unfamiliar with its pharmacology, addiction potential, and associated withdrawal syndrome. This gap leaves emergency department and inpatient rehabilitation nurses without standardized assessment tools or evidence-based management guidelines, which may compromise patient safety and quality of care.
The objective of this project was to synthesize current evidence on kratom pharmacology, addiction potential, and withdrawal presentation, focusing on comparing kratom withdrawal to opioid and other substance withdrawal syndromes. By identifying overlapping and divergent clinical features, the project aimed to equip nurses with the knowledge to identify kratom withdrawal in clinical settings and propose an evidence-based symptom-management protocol for emergency and rehabilitation environments.
A comprehensive literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL, focusing on sources published between 2018 and 2026. Search terms included kratom withdrawal, mitragynine, opioid withdrawal comparison, nursing assessment, and substance use disorder. Sources were evaluated for relevance and applicability to acute care nursing practice.
These findings guided the creation of an evidence-based nursing protocol for the identification and treatment of kratom withdrawal in acute settings. Implementing this protocol in acute care settings may enhance patient safety and outcomes and address a care gap in nursing knowledge. Future initiatives should focus on developing formal clinical guidelines, providing nursing education, and conducting research to validate assessment tools and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for this emerging patient population.
Keywords: kratom withdrawal, opioid withdrawal, evidence-based nursing protocol, acute care nursing, substance use disorder