Local health department officials warn of surge in highly addictive opioid
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- The St. Joseph Health Department is alerting the community to a concerning increase in the local use of 7-hydroxymitragynine, a powerful and highly addictive opioid compound currently being sold in retail locations.
According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the substance, also known as 7-hydroxy or 7-OH, can be up to 13 times more potent than morphine or heroin.
The substance also poses a serious risk of respiratory depression and overdose.
Dr. Robert Corder, a medical doctor at the St. Joseph Health Department, said he's concerned about the rise in patients being treated locally for 7-OH issues.
"It's very disturbing that this new concentrated form of kratom can be obtained with no restrictions. It is so powerful that it takes two to three times the medication that we use on patients who are addicted to fentanyl," Corder said. "The nickname for 7-OH is 'gas station heroin.' I don't feel that any drug this powerful should be available to the general public."
7-OH occurs naturally in very small amounts in the kratom plant, but is now being sold in concentrated and unregulated forms for recreational use and for claimed effects like stimulation, pain relief or sedation.
The opioid is often marketed as kratom, but it is a different substance and carries a significantly higher risk of addiction.
The products are unregulated and the strength and quality vary widely, making safe closing difficult. The risk of overdose increases when 7-OH is used with other substances.
Products containing 7-OH are commonly sold at gas stations, convenience stores and smoke and vape shops. They are available as powders, capsules, edibles or beverages, and some are packaged to resemble candy or snack foods, raising concerns about accidental exposure among children, per a news release from the Health Department.
Health risks include addiction, poisoning, slowed or stopped breathing and death.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recommended scheduling action under the Controlled Substances Act for certain products containing 7-OH. Neither kratom nor 7-OH has an FDA-approved medical use.
In early December, federal authorities seized approximately 73,000 units from warehouses, including two in the Kansas City area.
The Health Department urges residents to talk with a healthcare provider before using supplements marketed for pain, energy or mood.
Products containing kratom or 7-OH should be stored securely and kept out of reach of children and pets.
If someone becomes unresponsive after using the products listed above, call 911 immediately and administer naloxone if available.
