Synthetic kratom linked to fatal overdoses in Los Angeles

Artificial derivative of the kratom plant is killing people in Los Angeles. Over the weekend, local health officials reported three new overdose deaths linked to the opioid-like compound 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced the latest deaths on Friday, October 10, bringing the total recently reported deaths in the area to six. Most of these deaths involved generally healthy adults who had other drugs in their system, especially alcohol. Federal and local health agencies have begun to crack down on these illicitly sold products, which typically contain much more 7-OH than is found in natural kratom.

“It is important for the community to understand that these products are dangerous and can lead to fatal overdoses,” said Gary Tsai, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s Office of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control. statement.

A more dangerous version of kratom

Kratom is the name given to the leaves of the tree Mitragyna speciosa. It contains several compounds that combine to give users a stimulant-like effect at lower doses and an opioid-like effect at higher doses.

Kratom proponents have long argued that the drug, typically sold as an herbal or dietary supplement, can be used to safely manage chronic pain or as an alternative treatment for opioid use disorder (people with this condition often take other, less harmful and addictive opioids to manage their dependence). But so far, health agencies have largely disagreed.

For many years, the FDA has done this to caution The public has been urged to move away from natural kratom, arguing that these unregulated products could carry some of the same serious health risks as other opioids. While kratom is not a controlled substance, there is no legal use for it existing In the United States, including its use as a dietary supplement, some states have banned it completely.

Whatever the potential risks of natural kratom, they pale in comparison to synthetic 7-OH products.

Although it can depend on the specific type, the leaves of the Kratom plant typically contain only a small percentage of 7-OH (less than 2% of the total alkaloid content).

But synthetic products are often concentrated in 7-OH, at levels two to six times higher than expected from natural kratom products, according to a recent study. FDA report. Compared to mitragynine – the main alkaloid compound in kratom – 7-OH appears to be chemically similar to other opioids. As such, these synthetic products can reliably cause the same symptoms as classic opioid overdose, including severe respiratory depression (shallow or slow breathing) and death.

taking measures

Earlier this summer, the F.D.A Announce They will take action to reduce the use of synthetic 7-OH. These actions included sending warning letters to companies selling these products and recommending that the DEA begin listing synthetic 7-OH as a controlled substance. Natural Kratom has proponents such as the American Kratom Association Also beware People should stay away from so-called synthetic kratom Clap The US Food and Drug Administration cracks down on these and similar products.

For now, these products remain readily available in vape stores, gas stations, or online. Los Angeles health officials have asked the public to avoid using 7-OH or kratom products. But other than that, they state that people should not use these products alone or without taking naloxone (the reversal treatment for opioid overdose) and that they should avoid mixing these products with other drugs like alcohol that can worsen an overdose.