The addicts ranged in age between 31 and 77 years. Market gardeners, peasants and labourers were the predominant occupations in the sample. Based on a paper read at the 31st International Congress on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence held at Bangkok in February 1975, organized by the International Council on Alcohol and Addictions. Bulletin on Narcotics , vol. This can then be eaten without further preparation or after having been placed into warm water.
Some people also grind the fresh kratom leaf.
For each preparation the vein in the leaf is extracted and in some cases salt is added to prevent constipation. In the early stages of addiction the user may take only a few leaves to obtain satisfactory results. The addicts chew about 3-10 times a day, depending on their sensation of weariness to be overcome. Almost all subjects in the sample became addicted to kratom because they wanted to work more efficiently. The subjects in this sample had been addicted for a period of from 3 years to 30 years, with a mean of 18.6 years.