Disclaimer:
Research findings from animal studies do not always translate directly to humans. Differences in biology, metabolism, and dosing mean that results observed in animals may not reflect the same effects or safety in people. Animal research is an early step in understanding how a substance might work, but human clinical studies are necessary to determine real-world outcomes.
A study in alcohol-self-administering female Sprague Dawley rats conducted by University of Houston researchers found that a combination of mitragynine and naltrexone decreased alcohol use, more so than mitragynine or naltrexone alone. Rats dosed with mitragynine alone decreased alcohol self-administration moreso than rats dosed with naltrexone alone (Haile et al., 2026).
Researchers also noted that the combination of mitragynine and naltrexone “enhanced cFos expression in several brain regions more than either drug alone”, which is a measure of neuronal activity.
The researchers referenced several previous studies showing a decrease in alcohol consumption in both humans and mice who consumed kratom (Garcia-Romeu et al., 2020; Kumarnsit et al., 2007; Vijeepallam and Pandy, 2019; Gutridge et al., 2020; and Cheaha et al., 2015).
Another study in men found “pronounced reduction in the frequency and intake of alcohol use” with some participants reporting complete abstinence from alcohol in 1-3 months (Singh et al., 2025). A survey of 3,024 kratom consumers found 18% listed alcohol reduction as a reason for kratom use (Coe at al., 2019).
Clinical studies on alcohol reduction after kratom use, however, remain rare.
Kratom and alcohol should not be consumed together. Both substances are metabolized by the liver, therefore co-use could increase the liver workload and raise the risk of liver toxicity (especially with frequent use). Both substances can lead to dependency, and the intoxicating effects of alcohol mixed with kratom can lead to an even more pronounced loss of coordination, and impaired cognitive function.
This research would have been more difficult to conduct in places where kratom is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. Under the Controlled Substances Act, substances placed in Schedule I face strict controls that make scientific research significantly more difficult. Researchers must obtain special approvals from enforcement agencies, a process that can take months or longer and requires extensive security, documentation, and oversight. Access to the substances themselves is tightly restricted, limiting both availability and the ability to study products that reflect real-world use. These hurdles discourage universities and institutions from participating, reduce funding opportunities, and slow the pace of clinical research.
In low doses, alcohol causes relaxation and relieves anxiety. At high doses, alcohol causes nausea, vomiting, irritability, aggressive behavior, slurred speech, fecal incontinence, memory loss, and loss of motor function. Alcohol causes 178,000 deaths per year in the United States, more than any other illegal, regulated, or grey area psychoactive substance.
References
- Cheaha, D., Keawpradub, N., Sawangjaroen, K., Phukpattaranont, P., & Kumarnsit, E. (2015). Effects of an alkaloid-rich extract from Mitragyna speciosa leaves and fluoxetine on sleep profiles, EEG spectral frequency and ethanol withdrawal symptoms in rats. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology, 22(11), 1000–1008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2015.07.008
- Coe, M. A., Pillitteri, J. L., Sembower, M. A., Gerlach, K. K., & Henningfield, J. E. (2019). Kratom as a substitute for opioids: Results from an online survey. Drug and alcohol dependence, 202, 24–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.05.005
- Garcia-Romeu, A., Cox, D. J., Smith, K. E., Dunn, K. E., & Griffiths, R. R. (2020). Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa): User demographics, use patterns, and implications for the opioid epidemic. Drug and alcohol dependence, 208, 107849. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.107849
- Gutridge, A. M., Chakraborty, S., Varga, B. R., Rhoda, E. S., French, A. R., Blaine, A. T., Royer, Q. H., Cui, H., Yuan, J., Cassell, R. J., Szabó, M., Majumdar, S., & van Rijn, R. M. (2021). Evaluation of Kratom Opioid Derivatives as Potential Treatment Option for Alcohol Use Disorder. Frontiers in pharmacology, 12, 764885. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.764885
- Haile, C. N., Sangu, M., Das, J., & Kosten, T. A. (2026). Mitragynine and naltrexone alone and in combination reduce alcohol self-administration in female Sprague Dawley rats. Drug and alcohol dependence, 283, 113126. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2026.113126
- Kumarnsit, E., Keawpradub, N., & Nuankaew, W. (2007). Effect of Mitragyna speciosa aqueous extract on ethanol withdrawal symptoms in mice. Fitoterapia, 78(3), 182–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2006.11.012
- Singh, D., Mathandaver, D., Müller, C. P., & Smith, K. E. (2025). Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) as a Replacement for Alcohol Among a Sample of Malaysian Adults with a History of Alcohol Use Problems. Substance use & misuse, 1–7. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2025.2600634
- Vijeepallam, K., Pandy, V., Murugan, D. D., & Naidu, M. (2019). Methanolic extract of Mitragyna speciosa Korth leaf inhibits ethanol seeking behaviour in mice: involvement of antidopaminergic mechanism. Metabolic brain disease, 34(6), 1713–1722. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-019-00477-2