More than one in 10 (10.7%) of U.S. adults reported using kava in the past year, according to a newly released and peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology.

The study, co-authored by the Kava Coalition, College of Pharmacy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, and others, offers insight on how Americans are integrating kava into their lives in various formats, from traditionally prepared aqueous beverages to dietary supplements.

This summer a federal judge upheld New York City’s ban on steeped kava beverages.

In September, the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia released a monograph and therapeutic compendium for kava rhizome and root (Piper methysticum).

The nationally representative survey that sampled 2,000 respondents found that noble kava is most commonly consumed at home (59.4 %) and in kava bars (33.7 %). Traditional beverages, capsules, and teas are the most popular forms of kava identified in the study showing its use as a food and a dietary supplement. The most reported perceived effects were happy, relaxed, and friendly, with over 88% rating kava as effective for occasional stress relief and relaxation.

“This study establishes the first national baseline for noble kava use in the United States,” said Douglas La Rose, executive director of the Kava Coalition and co-author of the study. “The research will help kava bars and businesses understand their customers’ backgrounds, needs, and interests in consuming kava beverages and dietary supplements.”

La Rose added: “For decades, Pacific Island communities have shared noble kava as part of their cultural heritage and as a natural means of fostering social connection. Similar social connections are rapidly developing across the U.S among kava bars and consumers. Seeing these traditions translate and take root in the United States on such a wide scale is both historic and instructive. These findings give policymakers and the industry a foundation to build on — ensuring that as kava’s popularity grows, it does so in a way that protects consumers and promotes responsible regulation and market development.”

The research underscores the importance of advocacy and education as the U.S. kava sector expands. The Kava Coalition said it continues to work with regulators, scientists, vendors, consumers and Pacific Island stakeholders to promote responsible growth of the industry from agricultural production to product development, and greater understanding of noble kava’s role in the U.S market.