Methamphetamine use disorder remains difficult to treat. Behavioral approaches such as contingency management can be effective, but there are currently no medications approved specifically to treat the condition. This has led researchers to investigate new compounds that might reduce methamphetamine use without broadly interfering with motivation, appetite, or other healthy behaviors.
A new preclinical study published in Psychopharmacology offers an early clue. Researchers found that mitragynine, the most abundant naturally occurring compound in the kratom plant, reduced methamphetamine-seeking behavior in rats without reducing their motivation to work for food.
The study was conducted by researchers from Rutgers, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and the University of Florida, including RARC researcher Dr. Jenny Wilkerson of the Department of Anesthesiology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
