The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has launched a high-stakes effort to crack down on a dangerous new substance spreading across America: 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH. This chemical, a highly concentrated synthetic byproduct of the kratom plant, is being sold widely as gummies, tablets, and drink mixes in gas stations and vape shops. Now, the FDA wants it classified as a Schedule I substance \u2014 the same category as heroin and LSD \u2014 and is warning the public that the opioid crisis may be repeating itself, just with a different name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. For centuries, its leaves have been used for pain relief, increased energy, and mood enhancement. The two main active compounds in kratom are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), both of which bind to opioid receptors in the brain. These compounds produce effects similar to opioids like codeine and morphine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because of these properties, some users have nicknamed it \u201clegal morphine\u201d or \u201cgas-station heroin.\u201d But the FDA has made it clear: 7-OH is not just opioid-like. \u201cScientifically, by definition, it is<\/em> an opioid,\u201d said FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary. \u201cAnd yet it\u2019s being sold in gas stations and smoke shops across America, with nobody realizing what they\u2019re buying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the Drug Enforcement Administration follows through with the FDA’s recommendation, 7-OH will be placed in Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act. Schedule I substances are considered to have:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the same classification as heroin, LSD, and ecstasy. The new classification would make it illegal to possess, sell, or manufacture 7-OH for any reason other than approved scientific research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kratom and its components can have both stimulating and sedating effects depending on the dosage. Low doses may increase energy or alertness, while high doses can result in euphoria, sedation, and pain relief. But the risks grow with concentration. While kratom leaves contain less than 1% 7-OH, some manufactured products contain dangerously high levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStudies suggest concentrated 7-OH is up to 13 times more potent than morphine,\u201d said Jim O\u2019Neill, deputy secretary of Health and Human Services. \u201cIt carries a high risk for addiction \u2014 on purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Users have experienced seizures, liver toxicity, difficulty breathing, and even death. Between 2020 and 2022, kratom was linked to at least 4,100 deaths, according to a Washington Post<\/em> analysis. In Florida alone, more than 580 people have died from kratom-related overdoses since 2013.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adding to the danger is the lack of quality control. Some kratom products have been found to contain heavy metals like lead and arsenic or have been contaminated with salmonella. Others come with no dosing instructions at all. As one grieving mother put it after her son died from a kratom overdose, \u201cJust because it\u2019s sold at the convenience store doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s not dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes. Kratom and especially 7-OH have been shown to cause physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms. According to the FDA, people who develop a substance use disorder from kratom often exhibit cravings, increased tolerance, and continued use despite harmful consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are also cases of neonatal abstinence syndrome<\/em>, where newborns go into withdrawal because their mothers used kratom during pregnancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Dr. Lief Fenno, chair of the American Psychiatric Association\u2019s Council on Addiction Psychiatry, explained: \u201cThe experience patients have with kratom is very similar to addiction to any other opioid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kratom products are sold legally across much of the U.S., often in powder, capsule, tablet, or drink form. It is a booming $1.5 billion industry, with products available online, in vape shops, convenience stores, and gas stations. These items are often fruit-flavored or disguised as supplements, with labels that may leave out key information or intentionally mislead buyers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But with no FDA-approved uses and no safety assurances, the entire market exists in a legal gray zone. Some sellers have even falsely labeled their kratom shipments as \u201cpotpourri\u201d to avoid detection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FDA has issued numerous warnings about kratom since 2016 and has seized or blocked shipments of illegal kratom products. The agency recently sent warning letters to seven companies for selling 7-OH in forms like gummies, drink mixes, and shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In June, the FDA released public education materials and a \u201cDear Colleague\u201d letter to physicians, alerting them to the dangers. It also added new codes to the National Poison Data System in February to track 7-OH exposures more accurately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still, enforcement has been slow and limited by gaps in regulation. \u201cWe cannot get caught flat-footed again,\u201d said Dr. Makary. \u201c7-OH is an opioid that can be more potent than morphine. We need regulation and public education to prevent another wave of the opioid epidemic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the absence of federal regulation, several states and cities have taken action on their own. Six states \u2014 Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin \u2014 have banned kratom entirely. Others, like Kentucky and Georgia, have raised the minimum age to purchase kratom to 21 and introduced strict labeling requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Oklahoma, Representative Daniel Pae emphasized the urgency: \u201cGiven the political reality of Congress, I don\u2019t anticipate them taking any action anytime soon.\u201d As a result, local governments have stepped in to fill the void.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the FDA\u2019s move to schedule 7-OH is widely supported by public health officials, the broader conversation around kratom remains divided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some, like the American Kratom Association, support the FDA’s move on 7-OH but warn against banning natural kratom. \u201cThese 7-OH products are not kratom,\u201d said Mac Haddow of the association. \u201cThey are chemically altered substances that pose an imminent threat to consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Others argue that kratom, when used responsibly, may help people with opioid withdrawal or chronic pain. Oliver Grundmann, a professor at the University of Florida who has studied kratom since 2016, said, \u201cThere are legitimate uses for it, but it needs to be in a controlled environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The DEA must now review the FDA\u2019s recommendation and begin a public rulemaking process. That includes collecting public comments and weighing the evidence before making a final decision on scheduling 7-OH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, the FDA says it will continue to support scientific research on kratom and 7-OH. A clinical study is planned to explore the safety and psychological effects of the compounds in humans. But until that data is available, officials say their top priority is prevention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPublic health is supposed to prevent disasters, not just clean them up after they\u2019ve killed thousands and thousands of people,\u201d said Dr. Makary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fight over kratom is far from over. But if the FDA has its way, the days of \u201clegal morphine\u201d being sold next to slushies and cigarette lighters may finally be coming to an end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n HNZ Editor: <\/strong>I’ve known people who have had severe problems with addictions to these products, to the point where they needed a 6 week rehab program to get clean. Kratom is dangerous.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has launched a high-stakes effort to crack down on a dangerous new substance spreading across America: 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH. This chemical, a highly concentrated synthetic byproduct of the kratom plant, is being sold widely as gummies, tablets, and drink mixes in gas stations and vape shops. Now, the FDA wants it classified as a Schedule I substance \u2014 the same category as heroin and LSD \u2014 and is warning the public that the opioid […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6956,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,16,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cbd-essential-oils","category-medication","category-mental-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6955","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6955"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6955\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6957,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6955\/revisions\/6957"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6956"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}What Does Schedule I Mean?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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What Are the Effects and Dangers?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Is Kratom Addictive?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Where and How Is It Sold?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Patchwork Crackdowns at the State Level<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A Divided Debate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s Next?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n