A new report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is calling attention to an escalating crisis that’s threatening to ensnare the health, safety and lives of Americans – especially unsuspecting young people.
There’s a substance, 7-hydroxymitragynine, also known as 7-OH, showing up in gummies, tablets and even drink mixes, many of which are being sold at convenience stores and online.
Nicknamed “Gas Station Heroin,” it’s a concentrated byproduct of the kratom plant that produces opioid-like effects. It’s reportedly 13 times more potent than morphine. It’s also highly addictive.
The products it’s in promise to help buyers ease existing pain, relax, or even help them focus or elevate their mood.
Even though there are no FDA approved drug uses for the dangerous compound, many of the products are being label as “dietary supplements.” It’s a misleading and potentially deadly lie.
“They’re marketed for children,” warned Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). “They’re gummy bears. They’re bright colors. They’re candy flavored.”
“Vape stores are popping up in every neighborhood in America, and many are selling addictive products like concentrated 7-OH,” said FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary. “After the last wave of the opioid epidemic, we cannot get caught flat-footed again. We need regulation and public education to prevent another wave of the opioid epidemic.”
At last week’s news conference calling for the compound to be reclassified and banned from some of its current uses, Jim O’Neill, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Health and Human Services, warned that concerns were more than theoretical.
“We’ve seen a disturbing rise in reports of overdoses, poisonings and emergency room visits linked to products containing 7-OH,” he told those gathered.
Close to two million people reported using kratom back in 2022. In addition to the synthetic opioid being highly addicted and destructive, it’s also known to cause seizures and liver toxicity.
Thanks to Secretary Kennedy, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will review the drug and consider its classification.
In the meantime, the FDA has issued warning letters calling out the numerous companies selling products that contain the addictive opioid:
The companies must respond to the government within the next fifteen days.
Parents are always navigating a myriad of concerns, especially the fear of their children becoming addicted to drugs. This latest iteration is on the federal radar, but the dangerous and toxic products in question are nevertheless currently within arm’s length of the children in our neighborhood.
Image from Getty.
