Los Angeles, CA – Health authorities in California have issued a public warning about an energy product sold at convenience stores and smoke shops after three people died of overdoses linked to the supplement in the Los Angeles area.
The products, available in tablets, gummies, and drink mixes, contain the compound kratom, which experts say can be addictive and potentially toxic. Officials are urging consumers and healthcare providers to exercise caution.
Overdose Cases Prompt Warning
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a release on Sept. 12, following confirmation from the County Medical Examiner that three residents had fatally overdosed after using products containing the synthetic kratom compound 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH).
Officials did not disclose the victims’ names or exact locations, but autopsies revealed the victims were aged 18 to 40 and had all consumed alcohol along with the compound.
“The decedents were otherwise healthy, with no other substances identified as substantively contributing to their deaths,” the department wrote. “At low doses, 7-OH can have stimulant-like effects, and at higher doses, it has opioid-like effects.”
Dangers of High Doses
According to Los Angeles County health authorities, high doses of 7-OH, whether taken alone or mixed with alcohol or other sedatives, can result in severe respiratory depression and death.
“They are unregulated and may contain unknown concentrations of 7-OH, increasing the risk of unintentional overdose,” the release warned.
The warning applies to products sold both online and at retail stores, highlighting the need for vigilance among users.
FDA Plans to Ban 7-OH
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced plans this summer to ban 7-OH due to its potential for abuse and deadly effects.
During a July 29 press conference, FDA Commissioner Martin Makary and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. confirmed the agency would send warning letters to companies marketing products containing the compound illegally.
If the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) approves, 7-OH will be classified as an illicit drug, giving authorities stronger enforcement powers.
What is 7-OH?
7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) is a naturally occurring substance in the kratom plant (Mitragyna speciosa), but it makes up less than 2% of the alkaloid content in natural kratom leaves.
The FDA has noted that 7-OH has significantly greater mu-opioid receptor potency than mitragynine, kratom’s primary alkaloid, and even classical opioids like morphine.
Mu-opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord are responsible for pain relief, euphoria, and respiratory depression, according to research published by the National Institutes of Health.
Takeaway for Consumers
Health officials advise avoiding supplements containing 7-OH, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, due to the high risk of fatal overdose. Anyone who has purchased products with 7-OH should dispose of them safely and seek medical guidance if experiencing adverse effects.
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